A man has died after he was struck by a vehicle in New Haven on Monday night and police said the driver of the vehicle has been charged with driving under the influence.
Police and firefighters responded to the intersection of Ella Grasso Boulevard and Orange Avenue around 8:20 p.m. after getting a report of a pedestrian who was hit by a vehicle.
When emergency crews arrived, they said they found a pedestrian in the road with severe injuries and a vehicle crashed into a utility pole.
The 52-year-old man, old Eric Joseph Pechalonis of Hamden, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Police believe Pechalonis was walking east from Orange Avenue and trying to cross toward Columbus Avenue at the Ella Grasso Boulevard intersection when a vehicle on the Boulevard stopped for him.
Another vehicle on the Boulevard passed the first vehicle as it slowed down, police said. According to police, the driver of the vehicle, identified by officers as a 39-year-old Edward Lugo, was arrested at the scene and charged with DUI. Additional charges are pending.
Police said Lugo also hit a utility pole, which caused an electrical transformer fire at the top of the pole. It eventually burned itself out.
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He is being held on $50,000 bail and was due in court on Tuesday.
The collision remains under investigation by the New Haven Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team.
Witnesses who have not spoken to police are asked to contact the New Haven Police Department at (203) 946-6316.
