Charges Filed In Case Of 92-Year-Old's Death In Willington Collision

WILLINGTON, CT — The driver of a pickup truck that struck and killed an elderly Willington man who was crossing the street near his home last winter is now facing criminal charges, state police said.

State police said 27-year-old Sean Christian McDonough, of Mansfield, surrendered at the Troop C barracks Sunday on an active warrant. He was charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle and failing to exercise due care to avoid a pedestrian collision, according to a warrant. He posted $10,000 bail and was given a court date of Jan. 30, state Police said.

The crash took place at 4:03 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2022, along the 100 block of Willington Hill Road and McDonough was identified as the driver of the 1999 Ford F-350 Super Duty truck involved in the collision, according to a warrant. He showed no signs of impairment and there was no evidence of distracted driving, according to a warrant. State police ruled out weather, mechanical issues and light as factors, according to a warrant.

The pedestrian, identified as, Garth Nichols, 92, of Willington, was taken by ambulance to Hartford Hospital with head injuries and later died of "blunt trauma," according a warrant, citing the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. He was located 15 feet from the Ford pickup and a coroner's report ruled the crash an accident, according to a warrant.

A state police accident report indicated that the pickup was heading north on Willington Hill Road and that Nichols was crossing the street.