MEDIA ASSIST LEADS TO STATE POLICE ARREST 

                                         IN FATAL HIT AND RUN

   On 4/14/08, at approx. 11:41 p.m., State Troopers from Troop E and the Montville Resident Trooper's Office responded to a report of an accident at Rt. 32 and Sandy Desert Road in Montville. Upon arrival, State Troopers found a seriously injured man lying in the travel portion of Rt. 32, unconscious and unresponsive. The vehicle involved in this motor vehicle pedestrian crash failed to stop and fled from the scene on Rt. 32 at a high rate of speed.

   The victim, identified as Fu Quan Liu DOB:9/29/48 of Montville, was transported to W.W. Backus Hospital suffering from multiple traumatic injuries. He was transferred to Yale New Haven Hospital where he later died on 5/8/08 as a result of his injuries.

   The accident investigation was conducted by the Montville Resident Trooper’s Office. In addition, the State Police CARS (Collision Accident Reconstruction Squad) also responded to the scene to assist in the investigation.

   In an effort to identify the operator who fled the accident scene, State Police Detectives were assigned to work this investigation. The facts of the crash and video of the actual crash were broadcast on local T.V. news. A viewer contacted State Police Detectives and provided information that led Detectives to locating evidence and leads in this investigation.

   Detectives identified the operator as JEFFREY SOCHA and located the offending vehicle in this incident. As a result of the facts and circumstances uncovered in this investigation, an arrest warrant was obtained for the arrest of the accused.

   Today, 11/19/08 at 9:30 a.m., State Police Detectives arrested SOCHA and charged him in this incident. He was transported to GA# 21 in Norwich and held in lieu of a $25,000.00 bond.

ACCUSED:    Socha, Jeffrey M., DOB: 11/30/86, 3 Ventura Dr., Oakdale, CT

CHARGES:    Misconduct w/Motor Vehicle

                    Evading Responsibility

                    Failure to Obey Traffic Signal

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Lt. J. Paul Vance