The Waterbury Times|Breaking News|August 21, 2026

Waterbury- A Waterbury woman has been charged in connection with a fatal pedestrian crash on South Main Street that claimed the life of a 43-year-old Danbury man.

According to the Waterbury Police Department, officers responded at approximately 9:45 p.m. on Aug. 20, 2026, to the 600 block of South Main Street for a serious motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian.

When officers arrived, they found the victim lying in the roadway next to an SUV that had struck him. Police said the pedestrian suffered severe head trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators determined that the driver of the SUV, Meralis Rivera-Maldonado, 38, of Waterbury, continued driving after the collision and then struck two additional unoccupied parked vehicles before coming to a stop.

During the investigation, officers said they observed signs that Rivera-Maldonado was impaired. She was taken into custody and charged with:

• Manslaughter in the Second Degree with a Motor Vehicle
• Reckless Driving
• Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs

Police said Rivera-Maldonado was presented in court Thursday morning.

The crash remains under investigation by the Waterbury Police Department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit (CRU).

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact CRU at (203) 346-3975 or provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at (203) 755-1234.