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The hit-and-run crash took place in New Haven County around 6:20 p.m., Saturday, May 21, 2022, near Exit 10 in North Haven.
State police said the driver, identified as Middlesex County resident Luis Resto, age 55, of Cromwell, ended up crashing his red Nissan Rouge a short distance down I-91.
According to an investigation, the tow truck driver, Tolland County resident Christopher Russell, age 39, of Ellington, had stopped to help Melissa Goiran, age 41, of West Haven, who had pulled over on I-91 after having a flat tire.
He helped her change the tire and then while walking back to his truck was struck and killed by Resto who also hit Goiran's vehicle, state police said.
Goiran found Russell lying on the roadway and began CPR until first responders arrived. Russell was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
At the same time, a second trooper found the red Nissan Rouge that allegedly hit Russell driven by Resto in a crash near Exit 14 in Wallingford.
The trooper found Resto unresponsive. Wallingford EMS suspected Resto of being under the influence of narcotics and began providing treatment at the scene. Resto became more alert and was transported to Midstate Medical Center for further evaluation, state police said.
Investigators determined that at the time of the collision, Russell had been walking back to his tow truck on its driver’s side. The Nissan Rogue began drifting over from the right lane, through the acceleration lane, and partially into the right shoulder where it struck Russell.
It was determined that the Nissan continued for nearly five miles before colliding with the wire rope guardrail in the center median and becoming disabled, police said.
In May, a witness with a dashcam contacted police and told troopers they had seen Resto weaving and hitting the guardrail numerous times. They also saw the final crash and stopped.
During an almost yearlong investigation, detectives collected evidence and determined that Rusto had allegedly hit Russell and driven away before crashing.
An arrest warrant was issued for Resto and on Tuesday, April 4 he turned himself in to state police.
He was charged with:
- Manslaughter with a motor vehicle
- Reckless endangerment
- Misconduct with a motor vehicle
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs
- Evading responsibility resulting in death
- Failure to maintain proper lane
- Illegal operation failing to move over for an emergency vehicle
Resto was unable to post a $50,000 court-set bond and was transported to the New Haven Correctional Center.
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