Family of Pedestrian Killed by Police Cruiser Sues Officer and City of New Britain

March 19, 2024

Silver Golub & Teitell and the Law Office of Michael L. Chambers, Jr., have filed a wrongful death lawsuit for the family of Katherine Colon, who was struck and killed by a speeding police cruiser in New Britain, Connecticut, last September.

The lawsuit holds the driver, Connor Reinsch, and his employer, the city of New Britain, negligent in Ms. Colon’s death and seeks damages on behalf of her estate and minor child.

Mr. Reinsch was driving at about 60 mph in a 25 mph zone when he struck Ms. Colon in the early hours of September 21, 2023, in reckless disregard for the safety of people around him and faster than reasonable for the driving conditions, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in Connecticut Superior Court in Hartford on March 19.

“The driver of this vehicle is responsible for the death of Katherine Colon, and so is the city of New Britain,” said Joaquin Madry, a partner at Silver Golub & Teitell who represents the family. “No emergency is so great that it warrants endangering the lives of other people, as so tragically happened in this case,” Mr. Madry said.

The lawsuit was brought by the administrator of Ms. Colon’s estate and Ms. Colon’s minor son.

“As a result of this negligence, Katherine Colon’s children have lost the love, care and protection of their mother, and we will fight for justice for them,” said Michael Chambers of the Law Office of Michael L. Chambers, who is representing the family along with Mr. Madry.

The police officer, who was responding to a burglary call, was driving at an excessive speed and did not engage emergency lights and sirens that would have warned of his approach, the lawsuit stated. The officer also allowed himself to be distracted while driving and failed to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians on the road, it said.

The lawsuit is Rodriguez, Maribel et al v. Reinsch, Connor et al, HHD-CV6182147-S, in Superior Court in Hartford.