Police make arrest in hit-and-run crash in Meriden that left woman disabled

A woman has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run crash in Meriden involving a pedestrian who was left disabled.

Paige Cassina, 32 of Meriden, turned herself in Friday on charges of evading responsibility causing serious physical injury, tampering with physical evidence, first-degree reckless endangerment and reckless driving, according to the Meriden Police Department.

She was released on $5,000 bond and is expected to be arraigned in Meriden Superior Court on Nov. 17.

The charges Cassina faces stem from a crash involving a pedestrian on April 4, police said. Police received multiple 911 calls about the crash, which was reported at about 11:17 p.m. in the area of 491 Bee St.

Officers who responded found a 26-year-old woman on the sidewalk of the northbound side of Bee Street suffering from life-threatening injuries, police said. The motorist involved had left the scene prior to police arriving.

The pedestrian was treated at the scene by medics and firefighters before being taken to the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain. She was later transferred to Hartford Hospital and was listed in critical condition “for an extended period of time,” Meriden Sgt. Michael Boothroyd said in a statement Friday.

“She is still recovering but has sustained serious disabling injuries,” Boothroyd said.

According to police, investigators determined that the pedestrian had stepped out into Bee Street to speak to a friend who was parked in front of her home when a vehicle heading north struck the side of the friend’s vehicle and the 26-year-old. The driver involved never stopped and continued north on Bee Street, police said.

Investigators found a piece of the evading vehicle at the scene and determined that it came from a 2008-2015 Nissan Rogue.

Additionally, a witness to the crash followed the evading driver onto Meadow Brook Drive, where investigators viewed surveillance footage and found that the motorist had entered the no outlet street and never left. Police said officers canvassed the area and found car parts from the suspect vehicle in the road of the no outlet.

Officers then followed the trail of car parts and found a set of tire marks in the grass of a home on Meadow Brook Drive, police said. From the street, officers could see the suspect vehicle behind the residence, which was later found to be a blue 2012 Nissan Rogue with heavy front right damage.

Police identified the driver at that time as Cassina and impounded the vehicle.

Investigators sought a warrant for Cassina’s arrest, which was served Friday.