A man accused of causing a crash in Griswold that killed a 96-year-old woman over the weekend has been arrested and is being held on a $1.5 million fine.
When state police responded to the intersection of Taylor Hill Road and Oakville Road in Griswold around 4:46 p.m. Sunday, they found an abandoned gold Audi with front-end damage and a GMC Acadia with airbags deployed, according to the arrest warrant.
Charlotte Degrado, 96, was in the back seat of the GMC and was complaining of severe back pain, according to the arrest warrant.
An ambulance responded and transported Delgado to William Backus Hospital, where he died at 5:49 p.m., according to police.
The driver of the GMC told state police that he had been stopped at a stop sign at the four-way intersection when a speeding vehicle crashed into the side of his vehicle, according to the arrest warrant.
A witness told state police that the Audi was going about 60 miles per hour, crossed the intersection without stopping and hit the pickup truck, causing it to spin, according to the warrant.
The witness took a short video of three people getting out of the Audi and turned it over to state police.
Other witnesses also provided police with descriptions of people who fled the Audi.
When police searched the interior of that Audi, they found a prescription pill bottle for Franklin Post, 35, an unmarked pill bottle, marijuana paraphernalia and unopened alcoholic beverages, according to state police.
State Police found a person suspected of fleeing the vehicle and was taken to William Backus Hospital.
Post was found in a wooded area on East Main Street in Jewett City and admitted to recently smoking marijuana and falling asleep while in the front seat, according to the arrest warrant.
Police said Post had also tampered with his court-ordered ankle bracelet and found nearly $5,000 in cash and pills believed to contain fentanyl on him.
He was taken to William Backus Hospital and refused to provide blood, breath and urine samples or participate in questioning, the warrant states.
Post has been charged with operating under the influence, evading the scene, criminal mischief, violation of conditions of release, interference, possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to sell.
He was initially held on $1 million bail, then the bail was increased to $1.5 million. The publication is due in court on July 12.
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