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Driver Of Stolen Car Arrested After Fatal Police Chase In Danbury

DANBURY, Conn. — The man who was driving a stolen car that flipped over during a police pursuit in Danbury last week, killing his passenger, was arrested on three warrants as he was being released from the hospital Monday, police said. 

Ricardo Andre

Ricardo Andre

Photo Credit: Danbury Police Department

Ricardo Andre, 32, of Danbury, was charged with: 

  • Warrant #1: sixth-degree larceny, violation of probation and two counts of second-degree failure to appear. He was held on $20,000 bond on those charges.
  • Warrant #2: sixth-degree larceny, interfering with and officer/resisting, violation of probation and second-degree failure to appear. He was held on $20,000 bond on those charges.
  • Warrant #3: first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer/resisting; reckless driving, engaging in police pursuit, illegal operation of motor vehicle under suspension and second-degree failure to appear. He was held on $2,000 bond on those charges.

The chase began Thursday morning when an off-duty Danbury police officer spotted Andre driving what the knew was a stolen 1997 Ford Explorer, police said.

The officer, who has not been identified, was working an extra-duty job in the area of Main Street and Center Street, police said.

The driver took off after the officer approached him at about 10:35 a.m. Thursday, and the off-duty officer followed him in his own vehicle, police said.

As the pursuit continued, Andre struck a road sign and a utility pole before traveling across a private driveway at 13 Mountainville Road and rolling over the vehicle across the lawn at about 10:50 a.m., according to Connecticut State Police.

The crash was near the intersection of Mountainville and Mountain roads.

The crash ejected Andre's passenger, city resident Tiffany Fitzgerald, 26, from the vehicle, and both were left with serious injuries, according to the Danbury Police Department. 

According to the News-Times, Fitzgerald has died of her injuries and an autopsy was to be performed Monday. 

The Connecticut State Police is conducting the investigation into the crash, and the Danbury Police Department will be conducting an internal investigation, police said.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or the moments before the crash sequence is asked to contact Trooper First Class Gregory Trahan of the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad at 860-779-4917 or gregory.trahan@ct.gov.

Click here to read the story at the News-Times website.

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