'Wolverine' Charged in Fatal Pedestrian Crash

NEW HAVEN, CT- A New Haven man was arrested after he allegedly fatally injured a pedestrian in a hit-and-run incident.

The accident happened on Grand Avenue between Poplar and Ferry Streets on March 7. Michael Kucher, 54, was seriously injured and passed away on March 16 due to his injuries.

Witnesses told police that a white Honda Accord, possibly a 1999-200 model had fled the scene, said Officer David Hartman, police spokesman.

A witness said he knew the operator as "Wolverine." He earned the nickname because of his short stocky build and "vampire-like fangs."

Police obtained video surveillance before and after the crash that showed the offending vehicle in a race of sorts with two other vehicles, Hartman said.

Police were dispatched to a Chapel Street address March 8 and recovered the suspected vehicle. Sgt. Rose Dell, a crash specialist obtained the tow record of the vehicle and found it had been towed in August 2015. She got the owner's information.

Dell and Sgt. Carlos Maldonado located and interviewed the car' owner who said he sold it.

Dell and new case partner Sgt. David Zannelli from homicide continued the search to find the current owner through many interviews and the assistance of many Spanish-speaking officers.

Fair Haven patrol Officer Elvin Rivera acted on a tip and found Antonio Calderon, 27, at a local bar. He was brought to headquarters for an interview.

Calderon didn't admit culpability, but said he was in the vehicle during the evening of the crash.

He was charged on May 2 with felony evading, second-degree manslaughter, misconduct with a motor vehicle and reckless driving. He was in custody on an unrelated matter.