Waterbury police make arrest in deadly hit-and-run

Police have arrested the driver they say is responsible for the hit-and-run death of a man in Waterbury last month.

Richard DiNicola, 47, of Jones Drive in Waterbury was arrested Wednesday after police found the car they believe he was driving the night of the collision in a driveway behind a three-family house on East Main Street. He was charged with evading responsibility in an accident resulting in death; tampering with physical evidence; illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension; operation of a motor vehicle without insurance and failure to renew registration, police said.

DiNicola was in custody Wednesday on $100,000 bail and was scheduled to be arraigned in Superior Court in Waterbury.

According to police, the deadly hit-and-run happened about 8:15 p.m. Oct. 22 in the area of 760 Wolcott St. A car struck James Gatlin, 67, when he was trying to push a shopping cart across the street near Pep Boys Auto Parts.

Surveillance cameras captured images of the white car striking Gatlin and continuing north on Wolcott Street with Gatlin still on the hood. When the car turned right onto Pritchard Avenue, Gatlin rolled off the hood and fell onto the street, police said.

Police released pictures of the white car and asked for the public’s help in finding the vehicle and its driver.

Christine Dempsey can be reached at cdempsey@courant.com.

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