Bernice LaRochelle Obituary, Death;- A man from Norwich was taken into custody on Monday in connection with an accident that occurred in Griswold in August 2024, resulting in the death of an elderly woman who was walking along Main Street.
Ean King, 37, residing on Hunters Road in Norwich, faces charges stemming from a warrant that includes second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, third-degree assault, reckless driving, and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
According to state police, another driver who was in a parked vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident.
King is also charged with operating a vehicle on a sidewalk, failing to maintain a proper lane, not driving on the right side of the road, and not wearing a seatbelt.
On August 29, 2024, at approximately 3:44 p.m., King was driving a BMW on Main Street, also known as Route 12, in the borough of Jewett City, Griswold, when the accident occurred, as reported by the police.
The arrest warrant affidavit indicates that King’s vehicle veered onto the sidewalk, colliding with a street sign, the pedestrian, a post office, and two parked cars. The pedestrian, identified as Bernice LaRochelle, 78, was declared dead at the scene.
King informed the police that an object in the back seat of his vehicle had rolled forward and blocked his brake pedal, according to the warrant. However, police maintain in the warrant that data from the BMW indicates the accelerator speed remained consistent throughout the incident.
After conducting an investigation, police determined that King was under the influence of “cannabis and a narcotic analgesic” and was not in a condition to safely operate a motor vehicle at that time, as stated in the warrant.
King was held on a bond set by the court at $150,000 and was arraigned on the charges on Monday. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 16, according to court records.
