East Haven police have arrested a woman accused of lying to police who are investigating a fatal crash on Frontage Road in East Haven on Sept. 14 and helping the suspected driver hide from police.
Gaitana Girgenti, 27, died after a tan Toyota sedan crashed into a pole near Home Depot on Frontage Road, She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, and another person was transported to the hospital for serious injuries.
Police have identified the suspected driver as 23-year-old Johnassis Melendez and said this weekend that he is in custody. On Thursday, police said Sara Montano, 28, drove him to northern Connecticut, but denied having any information about where he was.
Police said Montano did know about the fatal crash, that Melendez was driving and that police wanted to question him.
Montano later admitted to being the person to drive Melendez to northern Connecticut, according to police, who said they had video from an officer's body camera.
Montano has been charged with third-degree hindering prosecution and is being held on $25,000. She is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 5.
Police are still investigating Melendez and said they are working with the state's attorney to obtain a second arrest warrant for him on additional charges.
