Woman Charged In Connection With Fatal Hit-And-Run Crash: Meriden Police

MERIDEN, CT — A woman has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a man last December in Meriden, according to police.

Police said they received multiple 911 calls around 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 13 reporting that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle in the area of Broad Street and Twiss Avenue.

Responding officers found a man in the road with serious injuries in the 900 block of Broad Street. The vehicle fled the scene before officers arrived, according to police.

The victim was taken to MidState Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries. The victim didn’t have any identification on him, but investigators eventually identified him as 26-year-old Wilfredo Rivera-Rivera.

“After reviewing surveillance video from the area, it was determined that this was not an accident but an intentional act that led to Rivera-Rivera’s death,” police wrote in a news release. “Prior to Rivera-Rivera being struck by the vehicle there was a physical altercation that took place between the two.”

Jeffrey Kovic, 39, was arrested on Dec. 16 and charged with first-degree manslaughter.

In an update on Wednesday, police said further investigation and discussion with the State’s Attorney’s Office in New Haven led to an arrest warrant being obtained for 39-year-old Loumary Laclaustra for her role in the incident.

Laclaustra turned herself in on May 19, and police said she was charged with first-degree hindering prosecution and conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence. She was released after posting a $50,000 bond with a court date of June 2.