Police have arrested the former chairman of the Waterbury zoning commission after he allegedly struck a 17-year-old with his car and fled the scene.
Police have arrested the former chairman of the Waterbury zoning commission after he allegedly struck a 17-year-old with his car and fled the scene.
John Egan, 58, was involved in the hit-and-run that happened early Friday morning, police said. The teen was critically hurt as a result of the crash, according to police.
Egan was identified as a suspect in the accident on Wednesday.
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Waterbury's Aldermanic Liaison Ernest Brunelli said Egan served as chairman of the Waterbury zoning commission. The mayor said Egan resigned from the commission, effective yesterday.
The teen was on a scooter when he was struck in the area of West Main Street and Highland Avenue just after midnight Friday. Family identified the teen as Bryan Calle.
Police said officers found him lying in the road, but the vehicle that hit him had already taken off. Authorities later found the vehicle, a Cadillac XT5, abandoned and took it away.
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Police said Egan is the registered owner of the vehicle and is believed to have been driving when the Calle was struck.
Calle was brought to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where he is in critical condition and being treated for life-threatening injuries, police said.
An attorney for Calle's family said the teen has severe brain swelling and is fighting for his life.
Calle only moved to Waterbury from Ecuador a few months ago, according to family members. He was riding home from work on his scooter when he was hit, they said.
Thursday's zoning commission meeting was run by Brunelli. He couldn't comment on the nature of Egan's arrest, but had this to say:
“He’s a great guy. I’ve always had support for him and it’s a tragic thing and I hope he gets through it and things work out,” Brunelli said.
The family attorney said Calle's family is pleased an arrest has been made, but their focus remains on his well-being and they're working on bringing his parents from Ecuador to see him in the hospital.
Egan voluntarily turned himself in to police Wednesday evening. He faces charges including evading responsibility causing serious physical injury or death, and failure to yield while turning.
He was released on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 12.
