Danbury Woman, 26, Identified as Victim in Fatal Crash Involving a Stolen Car: UPDATE

DANBURY, CT — A 26-year-old Danbury woman has died as the result of serious injuries she suffered in a rollover accident on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, according to Danbury Police Lt. Christian Carroccio. Connecticut State Police list the driver of the vehicle in that accident as Ricardo Andre, 33, of Danbury. State police said the passenger who died Sunday, Dec. 4 as a result of Thursday's accident was Tiffany Fitzgerald, of Danbury.

Police arrested Andre on Monday on three unrelated warrants, according to Carroccio who confirmed that Andre was the driver of the stolen 1997 Ford Explorer from Thursday's rollover crash after a police pursuit. The warrants were served Monday at Danbury Hospital as Andre was being discharged.

The first warrant was for sixth-degree larceny, violation of probation and two counts of second-degree failure to appear. The second warrant was for sixth-degree larceny, interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest, violating probation and second-degree failure to appear.

Warrant number three is for first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest, reckless driving, engaging in police pursuit, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension and second-degree failure to appear in court.

State police said Fitzgerald was a passenger in the stolen vehicle driven by Andre who refused to stop for police.

According to a police report, on Dec. 1 at approximately 10:35 a.m. when a Danbury police officer working an extra duty job in the area of Main Street and Center Street in Danbury observed a vehicle which police said he knew was stolen.

The Danbury officer, who was identified by State Police as Jamie Hodge, 38, a one-year member of the police department, approached the vehicle, however the Andre drove off. Hodge followed the stolen vehicle in his own personal vehicle and called it into Danbury police dispatch, according to a report.

Police said the stolen vehicle headed south bound on Mountainville Road where it then went off the road in the area of 13 Mountainville Road, rolling over.

Police said both the driver and passenger suffered serious injuries. Andre extricated himself from the vehicle but was later transported to Danbury Hospital along with Fitzgerald, who died on Sunday.

The investigation has been turned over to Connecticut State Police and the Danbury Police Department will be conducting an internal investigation, according to a report.

Andre is currently being held on a $2o,000.00 bond.

Related:

• 1 Dead After Crash in Stolen SUV Near Danbury-Bethel Town Line
• SUV Involved in Rollover Crash Was Reported Stolen: Police
• 2 Seriously Injured After Flipping Stolen Car in Danbury Police Chase

Photo: Danbury PD