WWI monument in CT sustains ‘significant damage’ during hit-and-run crash

A World War I monument in Meriden was significantly damaged Thursday when it was struck by a motorist who took off from the scene, police said.

Officers responded to the intersection of Broad and East Main streets at 10 p.m. upon receiving the report that a crash had occurred involving the “City of Meriden’s World War Roll of Honor” monument, according to Lt. Darrin McKay of the Meriden Police Department.

Responding officers found that the monument was knocked over from the crash and sustained “significant damage,” McKay said in a statement Friday. The driver involved took off from the scene, leaving behind debris that included a portion of a headlight.

McKay said investigators found that the light belonged to a Ford F-150 pickup truck made between 2018 and 2020, which matched the description provided by a witness of a vehicle seen leaving the area. The vehicle was last seen heading south on Broad Street toward Wallingford.

According to McKay, the witness said the pickup truck was white. Based on the damage to the monument, the truck should likely have noticeable damage to its front end, McKay said.

“At this time we have multiple detectives working on this investigation and they are out canvassing the area for any videos or still photographs which may have captured the suspect’s vehicle either before or after the crash,” McKay said.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact Det. Jad Hadir at 203-630-6250.