EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — One person is dead after they were struck by a vehicle in East Hartford, police said.
"He was in tough shape. He had some pretty severe injuries," said Officer Marc Caruso with East Hartford Police Department.
The crash happened at the intersection of Pitkin and Main streets around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The male victim, later identified by police as George Tetteh-Quarshie, 70, of East Hartford, was found laying in the intersection with severe injuries, police said. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, where he later died from injuries.
Business owners and workers near that intersection did not want to speak on camera but told FOX61 the area can be very dark at night.
However, East Hartford Mayor Mike Walsh argued that is no excuse for a car to speed off after an accident.
"This lighting or no lighting was a preventable accident," said Mayor Walsh.
The vehicle that struck Tette-Quarshire left the scene. Police are now looking for a silver Hyundai, either an Elantra or Sonata, between the years 2011-2016. There could be damage to the front and driver's side of the vehicle.
Mayor Walsh emphasized the Town of East Hartford has 5,000 street lights and more can always be added, but in this case, he believed speed was most likely a factor.
"Cars that they make today want to go fast. They're quiet, they're powerful, some of the roads when we re-pave them are actually designed for higher speeds, but at the end of the day, you're sharing the roadway with pedestrians, you're sharing it with bicyclists," added Mayor Walsh.
Just last year alone, the Connecticut Department of Transportation recorded the highest spike in pedestrian fatalities in more than 40 years which is the highest it has seen in the state since the 80s.
As the state works to prevent more deaths, local police offered these tips.
"We ask that if you are walking at night, some type of reflective clothing to drivers that you're in the roadway would be very helpful as well as abiding by the crosswalks in using the safety signals to cross the road," added Officer Caruso.
Anyone who may have information regarding the suspect vehicle is asked to call Lt. Daniel Caruso at 860-291-7571.
Carmen Chau is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at cchau@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
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