Suspect Arrested in Hit-and-Run Crash that Killed Meriden Mom Who Saved Her Daughter

MERIDEN, CT — A 21-year-old Meriden man has been arrested in connection with the hit-and-run crash that killed Dania Cedeno-Delrosario, the 40-year-old mother who died while protecting her seven-year-old daughter.

Alex Checa turned himself into Meriden police Wednesday afternoon after police spoke to him about the crash and obtained a warrant for his arrest.

"Mr. Checa had come into the Meriden Police Department last evening at which time he cooperated in our on-going police investigation," police wrote in a statement. "At that time it was determined that Mr. Checa had been the driver of the vehicle which struck and killed Dania Cedeno-Delrosario back on 10/07/16."

Checa was charged with:

• Evading Responsibility Causing the Death of a Person
• Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence
• Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License

The vehicle involved in the accident is currently located in Patterson, New Jersey, and has been impounded by the Patterson Police Department. "Members of our agency will be traveling to Patterson, N.J. tomorrow to retrieve the vehicle and bring it back to the Meriden Police Department for processing," police said.

Checa was held in lieu of $250,000 court set bond and will be arraigned at the Meriden Superior Court on Thursday.

Photo: Alex Checa. Photo credit: Meriden Police Department