EAST WINDSOR, Conn. — The teen pedestrian struck by a vehicle who died from their injuries has been identified by police.
Enfield Police Lt. Matt Carl identified the victim as Jaylene Gonzalez, 14, of Enfield, who died Sunday night after she was struck by a distracted driver.
Jesse Pincince, 37, of Ellington, is facing multiple charges, including negligent homicide with a motor vehicle and second-degree manslaughter after he hit a pedestrian Sunday afternoon. Police said Pincince admitted he was texting while driving and didn't see the pedestrian walking on the side of the road.
Gonzalez, who was a freshman of Enfield High School, and her 12-year-old cousin, were walking home from the Valero gas station on North Rd. in East Windsor when a pickup truck struck the teen, who police say was walking in the breakdown lane.
Officers responded to the scene of the crash at 150 North Road around 3:15 p.m. Sunday. They said they had numerous reports of a vehicle operating erratically on Interstate 91 before the crash.
Callers told dispatchers the vehicle had exited I-91 at Exit 45 and traveled east to Bridge Street. Police said the vehicle was reported to have run the red light at Bridge and Prospect Hill Road just before hitting the pedestrian.
Pincince told police that he had been sending and receiving text messages while driving and had not seen the pedestrian walking on the side of the road.
"There was not sufficient evidence to charge him with operating under the influence but that he had medical conditions," said Lt. Matthew Carl of the East Windsor Police Department.
Pincince was supposed to be wearing glasses while driving, and he was not, according to police. And there were other issues that also could have affected Pincince, which police would not delve into.
And the investigation showed a pattern with his driving.
"We discovered reports in the area, within the past week or so of this call, his vehicle being called in as an erratic driver," Carl said.
That previous call came in four days before Sunday's deadly incident.
"The police were never able to locate him at the time to ascertain what the problem was," Carl said.
Out of respect to the family, FOX61 will not release the name of the victim until they do through police or Enfield Public Schools.
Pincince, whose bond was set at $200,000 Monday, must wear a GPS monitor 24/7 during this legal proceeding. He will be permitted to work and drive but the judge says he may not possess a cell phone when he is driving.
He is due back in court on April 12.
Doug Stewart is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
Tony Terzi is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at tterzi@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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