Victim Identified In Fatal Hit-And-Run Crash In Meriden: Police

MERIDEN, CT — The pedestrian who was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver late Wednesday night in Meriden has been identified as Clarence Harkless, 58, of New Britain, police said in an update on Thursday afternoon.

Lt. Darrin McKay said Harkless frequented Meriden “regularly and was known throughout the city by many.”

Police responded around 11:35 p.m. on Feb. 1 to a report of a person in the road on Lewis Avenue near the entrance of MidState Medical Center, according to Sgt. Stanley Zajac.

Zajac said responding units found a 58-year-old man laying unresponsive in the northbound lane of Lewis Ave at the entrance of the MidState Medical Center at 435 Lewis Ave. The man had injuries that were consistent with being hit by a vehicle, according to Zajac.

The man was taken to MidState Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, according to Zajac.

Witnesses described the suspect vehicle as a white SUV that was heading north on Lewis Avenue.

Zajac said the vehicle pulled over to the side of the road after it hit the man, a passenger got out, looked around then went back inside leaving the scene north on Lewis Avenue, turning left onto Kensington Avenue toward the Chamberlain Highway.

Anyone with information, or with video surveillance in the area, is asked to contact the Meriden Police Department at 203-630-6201.