A man faces charges for allegedly hitting someone on Route 8 in Derby on Tuesday while reportedly evading the scene of a two-car crash.
Troopers responded to a report of an evading motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian on Route 8 North at the Exit 12B off-ramp at 11:10 a.m. and found a victim suffering from minor injuries, according to Connecticut State Police.
The individual was taken to a hospital. State police said they were able to obtain video footage that captured the entirety of the incident.
According to state police, the video showed the driver of a gray Toyota Corolla reversing from the right lane, shifting into drive and accelerating directly toward a person on foot who was facing the vehicle. The Corolla driver allegedly struck the individual before turning right onto East Main Street at a “high rate of speed,” leaving the area without helping the person who had been hit, state police said.
When troopers spoke to the victim they said they had been involved in a two-vehicle collision. The victim claimed that they were trying to change lanes when their vehicle collided with another vehicle that “sped up from the right,” state police said.
After pulling over and getting out of their car to obtain the vehicle’s license plate information, the victim alleged that they were struck as the other driver went around them, according to state police.
State police said they were able to use the fleeing driver’s license plate information to identify the suspect as 67-year-old Keith Chapman of Shelton. He was found driving a Corolla as he pulled into the driveway of his residence, where police were waiting for him, state police said. Troopers were assisted by the Shelton Police Department.
Chapman was arrested on charges of interfering with an officer, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree breach of peace, reckless driving and evading responsibility involving physical injury. He was released on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Derby Superior Court on Oct. 2.
