WEST HAVEN — An Orange man turned himself in on a warrant April 1, charging him in a fatal crash involving a pedestrian on Derby Avenue on Jan. 9.
Justin T. Proto, 24, of 1002 Pleasant Hill Road, allegedly evaded the scene of the accident and ditched the vehicle.
Proto was charged with tampering with physical evidence and evading responsibility in a motor vehicle accident resulting in death. He was released on a $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Milford Superior Court on June 2.
At around 6:46 p.m. on Jan. 9, Proto was heading east on Derby Avenue in a 2013 Kia Optima when he struck and killed a 73-year-old man, who was crossing the street near the intersection with Forest Road.
The pedestrian, identified as Joseph M. Procaccini, of 27 Watson Ave. in North Haven, was coming from George Harte Nissan, crossing from the south side of the roadway, when he was hit.
Procaccini was not in a crosswalk, but Proto evaded the scene and had been driving faster than the posted speed limit of 35 mph, according to the report.
American Medical Response transported Procaccini to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The Kia was found around 9:30 p.m., abandoned in New Haven. The next morning, West Haven police received a teletype that the Kia Optima was located.
An officer went to the towing company, Megill’s Garage, and positively identified the Kia as the evading vehicle, police said, adding it was impounded for further investigation.