(New Haven, CT) - John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New Haven, announced that the Honorable Frank A. Iannotti today sentenced Elizabeth Cronk, age 46, of East Haven, to 10 years in prison, execution suspended after 51 months served, followed by five years of probation.
On April 10, 2025, pursuant to a plea, the defendant was found guilty of Evading Responsibility, in violation of Connecticut General Statues § 14-224(a). Gina Lavacca, a 47-year-old pedestrian, was struck by a motor vehicle driven by the defendant and suffered fatal injuries.
This incident occurred on June 14, 2024, at approximately 9:59 p.m. on Main Street in East Haven. The defendant was operating a motor vehicle without a license. The defendant’s juvenile son, a passenger in the vehicle at the time, told the defendant to pull over after she struck the victim, but she did not and drove home. The defendant never called anyone for help.
Video evidence from a nearby address quickly led East Haven police officers to the defendant’s residence. The defendant admitted being the person who struck the victim. The defendant’s son told police that his mother was driving fast when she stuck the pedestrian. The defendant was arrested on site.
The case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney David J. Strollo.