Crime

DA: Springfield driver charged in deadly hit-and-run had hit another car street racing that morning

The incident was "not an accident," said Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni and Springfield Police Captain Julio Toledo spoke at a press conference on Thursday to give an update about the driver charged in a fatal hit-and-run crash impaling a pedestrian in Springfield on Monday. Stephanie Barry / The Republican

By Lindsay Shachnow

September 6, 2024

Previously:

Pedestrian dies in Springfield cemetery following hit-and-run

The driver charged in a fatal hit-and-run crash — impaling a pedestrian on the fence of St. Michael’s Cemetery in Springfield on Monday — struck another car while street racing the same day, authorities say.

“There are unavoidable accidents that happen on our roadways,” Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said in a press conference on Thursday. “However, this situation about which we’re here today was not an accident.”

At 7:24 p.m., officers responded to the area of Boston Road and Berkshire Avenue where a female pedestrian, identified as 36-year-old Kristine Andrews, was hit by a car, sending her onto the cemetery fence, according to a statement from the Springfield Police Department. Andrews died at the scene.

Prior to Monday’s incident, the alleged driver — Nathan Colon, 18 — had been issued citations for speeding on at least three separate occasions, Springfield Police Captain Julio Toledo said at the press conference.

In the morning on the day that Andrews was hit, Colon was involved in a “separate and unrelated” collision where he also left the scene, Toledo said, adding that the earlier incident was witnessed by officers.

Springfield Police received multiple calls describing two cars traveling up Boston Road at extremely high speeds, likely exceeding 70 miles per hour, Gulluni said.

“At this point in the investigation, it is believed and alleged that the car being operated by the defendant was traveling side by side with another car at excessive speeds for almost two miles,” the district attorney said.

The involvement of the second vehicle continues to be investigated.

Colon was arrested at his family’s home in Springfield, according to Gulluni. Colon is charged with leaving the scene of personal injury resulting in death and motor vehicle homicide by means of reckless operation.

Gulluni said there was a second pedestrian who avoided injury.

“He and Ms. Andrews saw these cars coming toward them, barreling at an extraordinarily high rate of speed,” Gulluni said. “He was able to avoid being struck while being in the middle of the roadway and essentially stood in a very fortunate place where both cars passed him on either side of his body.”

The preliminary investigation of the case indicates that the incident was a result of street racing, Gulluni said.

“Typically what happens is they’re prearranged, individuals meet at a location, they line up side by side and they take off and race each other,” Toledo said.

Street racing has become a widespread problem in Springfield, Gulluni said, and in 2024 the DA’s motor vehicle homicide unit responded to 36 fatal crash scenes across Hampden County.

“There are no winners here. It’s a tragedy all the way around,” Toledo said. “A woman lost a life and a young man’s life is also been ruined over this incident.”