(New Haven, CT) – New Haven Judicial District State's Attorney John P. Doyle Jr., announced that the Honorable David L. Zagaja today sentenced Denise Lucibello, age 55, of East Haven, for the offenses of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-56b, and Operation of Motor Vehicle Under the Influence, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 14-227a, in connection with the June 2024 death of Department of Transportation Employee Andrew DiDomenico. The defendant was sentenced to a period of 10 years in prison, execution suspended after five years served, followed by a five-year period of probation. After her release, Lucibello will be subject to a period of probation where she could face an additional five years in prison if she were to violate the terms of her probation.
The family of Andrew DiDomenico, as well as Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett T. Eucalitto, provided sentencing remarks during the hearing at Superior Court in Meriden.
Lucibello was driving under the influence on the morning of June 28, 2024 when she fatally struck Mr. DiDomenico, age 26, while he was working along the shoulder of the Wharton Brook Connector of Interstate 91 in Wallingford as an employee of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Lucibello’s vehicle left the roadway and struck the victim.
The State’s Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Connecticut State Police and Wallingford Police Department for their diligent investigation of this case. The State’s Attorney’s Office would also like to thank Commissioner Eucalitto and the Connecticut Department of Transportation for their assistance throughout these proceedings. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Errichetti.
"This was not an accident,” State’s Attorney Doyle said. “The defendant chose to drive under the influence and because of that choice, a young life full of promise was senselessly taken. On behalf of the entire Division of Criminal Justice, I would again like to extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of Mr. DiDomenico.”