Investigation links local driver to March 2025 collision that left elderly pedestrian critically injured
Bridgeport — A hit-and-run that left a 76-year-old woman in critical condition at the intersection of Fairfield Avenue and Ellsworth Street in March 2025 has led to the arrest of a local man, Bridgeport police said.
Emergency calls to the Bridgeport Emergency Operations Center on the morning of March 19, 2025, prompted dispatch of American Medical Response, Bridgeport Fire Engine 7 and Bridgeport Police Officers to the scene at about 9:42 a.m., according to police reports. First responders found the woman lying face down in the eastbound lane, and she was transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital where she was listed in critical condition.
Investigators determined that the pedestrian had been struck by an SUV whose driver fled the scene. Bridgeport Police assigned the case to Officer N. Fowler, who pursued leads and sought an arrest warrant after the department’s investigation identified a suspect.
"Evading Responsibility with Serious Physical Injury."
That is the charge filed against 69-year-old Paul Kwaku Amuzu of Bridgeport, who was taken into custody by police on Aug. 28, 2026. Bond was set at $25,000, according to police records. The case remains a focus of local law enforcement and will proceed through the judicial process.
What happened at the scene
According to the police account, multiple 911 callers reported a pedestrian had been struck at the busy Fairfield Avenue and Ellsworth Street intersection. On arrival, emergency crews found the victim in the roadway and provided immediate aid before transporting her to the hospital.
- Incident date and time: March 19, 2025, about 9:42 a.m.
- Location: Fairfield Avenue and Ellsworth Street, Bridgeport
- Victim: 76-year-old female Bridgeport resident, transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital in critical condition
- Suspect: 69-year-old Paul Kwaku Amuzu, arrested Aug. 28, 2026; charged with evading responsibility with serious physical injury
Local context and community impact
The intersection of Fairfield Avenue and Ellsworth Street is a corridor used by vehicles and pedestrians in central Bridgeport. Hit-and-run collisions, particularly those involving elderly pedestrians, tend to raise concerns about crosswalk safety, driver accountability and enforcement.
Bridgeport police have, in recent years, emphasized efforts to reduce traffic violence through targeted enforcement and community outreach. This case underscores the role of investigative work in identifying and charging drivers who flee collision scenes. Prosecutors typically pursue charges in hit-and-run cases that result in serious injury, and a charge of evading responsibility with serious physical injury indicates authorities believe the driver left the scene after causing substantial harm.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Initial response | AMR, Bridgeport Fire Engine 7, Bridgeport Police |
| Investigating officer | Officer N. Fowler |
| Arrest date | Aug. 28, 2026 |
| Bond | $25,000 |
At this stage, police have not released additional details about the vehicle involved, whether any witnesses remain under interview or whether the victim has recovered. The arrest and charge reflect law enforcement’s determination that the suspect should be held to answer for allegedly leaving the scene after the collision.
As the case moves through the judicial system, Bridgeport residents may expect updates from the Bridgeport Police Department and local court filings. Hit-and-run incidents that injure pedestrians prompt broader conversations about pedestrian safety measures such as improved lighting, crosswalk visibility and speed enforcement—issues regularly raised at community meetings and by local officials.
WE NEWS will continue to monitor court proceedings and any statements from the Bridgeport Police Department or the Connecticut judicial system related to the arrest and charge.
