WATERBURY, CT (WFSB) -
Waterbury police said they arrested a suspect and found the vehicle involved in a hit-and-run accident that killed a teenager and injured a 21-year-old man Monday night.
Police said around 11:30 p.m., Richard Resto, 21, and Joshua Rodriguez, 18, were crossing the street near the intersection of Aurora Street and Route 7, when a car exited Route 8 north onto the Route 73 connector at a high rate of speed, hit them and took off.
Police said Rodriguez was brought to Waterbury Hospital with fatal head and internal injuries. He died from injuries suffered during the crash around 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
"I loved him, I grew up with him," said Peter McPherson about his friend, Rodriguez. "That's my boy."
Resto was brought to St. Mary's Hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He remains in stable condition and suffered leg and hip injuries.
McPherson said he looked down to send a text and Resto and Rodriguez kept walking. That is when they were hit by a vehicle, which ran a red light, McPherson said.
"He was on top of the car, the car just kept going," he said. "It was speeding. I saw him on the floor not moving so I ran over to him and I'm crying, shaking him, say something say something. And I'm checking for a pulse and he didn't have no pulse."
Michael McHaney, 29, of Waterbury was arrested and charged with felony evading responsibility, second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault with a motor vehicle. He is being held on $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on Wednesday morning.
Police said McHaney, who has a lengthy criminal record with numerous driving violations, confessed to the crash. In 2009, McHaney was convicted of several crimes including DUI. In 2007, he led police on a chase and was charged with evading reasonability and manslaughter.
Residents said the area is "dangerous" for pedestrians and drivers alike.
The accident reconstruction team spent hours at the intersection trying to determine what happened. Through witness statements and debris left at the scene, investigators discovered that the suspect's car was a blue, 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Waterbury police at 203-574-6921
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