Police have arrested a man on manslaughter, racing and other charges in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash in New Haven last summer.
Shawn Hopkinson, 41, of Branford faces charges in a crash in July 2024 that led to the death of 63-year-old Nader Elias Hanania, according to the New Haven Police Department.
Hopkinson was arrested on July 2 on charges of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, illegal racing on a highway, evading responsibility resulting in injury or death, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle without the minimum insurance and violation of traffic control signals.
Man killed in CT after car is struck by another vehicle that blew through red light then fled
According to police, the crash occurred just before 5 a.m. on July 10, 2024, at the intersection of College Street and South Frontage Road, where officers responded on the report of a two-car collision.
Investigators were able to obtain video footage that showed a Hyundai Accent being driven on College Street from MLK Boulevard. As the Hyundai enters the intersection of South Frontage Road and College Street, a Toyota Supra being driven south on South Frontage Road can allegedly be seen going through the red light, colliding with the passenger side of the Hyundai, according to police.
The driver of the Toyota, who was later identified as Hopkinson, fled the scene after the crash, police said. Hanania, the driver of the Hyundai, suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken in an ambulance to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The investigation was led by Sgt. Karl Rindfleisch of the police department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit. He was able to obtain a warrant for Hopkinson’s arrest.
According to court records, Hopkinson remains held on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in New Haven Superior Court next Thursday.
Hopkinson did not enter a plea to the charges during a prior court appearance, records show.