Norwich man charged with manslaughter for hitting woman, driving off

NORWICH, Conn. (WTNH) — A 34-year-old man was driving at least 70 mph before he fatally hit a woman in Jewett City, and then drove off, according to an arrest warrant.

Curt Rivard, Jr., of Norwich, was charged soon after the Sept. 22 crash with evading responsibility and driving while under the influence.

Wednesday, Connecticut State Police announced that he has also been charged with second-degree manslaughter, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, traveling unreasonably fast, failure to drive in the proper lane and failure to exercise due care to avoid a pedestrian.

He was assigned a $100,000 bond.

According to the arrest warrant, 50-year-old Kandi Fortuna was crossing North Main Street with another person when they heard Rivard’s car, saw it speeding towards them and tried to get out of the way. Fortuna was hit, with the other person barely avoiding Rivard’s car.

Rivard’s passenger told police that he yelled at Rivard to slow down, according to police documents. After Fortuna was hit, the passenger said he wanted to get out of the car, but that Rivard kept driving.

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