Alleged New Canaan Hit-&-Run Driver Charged in December Crash

A 42-year-old New Canaan man has been charged with involvement in a December 2012 hit-and-run following an investigation into car parts left behind at the scene, police announced earlier this week.

On Dec. 30, at approximately 4:55 p.m., officers responding to reports of a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Elm and Grove streets discovered only one vehicle still present on their arrival. A 22-year-old Stamford woman remained on scene with a broken wrist.

The woman stated she'd been traveling in her 4-door Chevy along Grove Street and arrived at a stop sign at the intersection for Elm. She told police she believed a vehicle approaching the intersection traveling along Elm Street would also have a stop sign and she pulled out in front of the approaching vehicle.

The approaching vehicle, a 1994 Subaru being operated by a man police identified as James French, Jr., 42, of Harrison Avenue, did not have a stop sign and "t-boned" the Chevy when it pulled out. French then allegedly fled the scene, but left behind his front grill and other debris.

With two eyewitness accounts corroborating the Chevy driver's story, police conducted an "off-line search through the DMV," for white Subarus, police said. Detectives narrowed down the search to the only vehicle that matched the description in all of Fairfield County. It was in New Canaan.

After an investigation that included a series of interviews, French was ultimately arrested and charged with evading responsibility and operating a motor vehicle without a license. He was released on a $250 bond and given a court date of April 1.

The Stamford driver was not charged in the incident.