Keyshia Benitez didn’t make it home this weekend. It was the early hours of Saturday morning, right around 3:48 a.m., when the streets of Connecticut are usually quiet. The 31-year-old was simply out on the road. Now, a community is left heartbroken, trying to make sense of a tragedy that never should have happened.
The night air on Ledyard Street was shattered by the brutal sound of an impact. It happened just south of Wawarme Avenue. A vehicle struck Keyshia hard. Instead of hitting the brakes to help, the person behind the wheel stepped on the gas. They left her bleeding on the cold, unforgiving pavement.
You can only imagine the sheer panic and pain she must have felt in those dark moments. First responders got the 911 calls and rushed down to the scene. When police and medics finally arrived, they found Keyshia lying helpless in the roadway. Her injuries were catastrophic. She was fighting for every single breath.
The paramedics did what they do best. They worked fast and hard to keep her alive. They loaded her into an ambulance and rushed her to a local hospital. Everyone hoped for a miracle. We all want to believe that help arrived just in time.
But sometimes, the damage is just too much. Despite the desperate efforts of the doctors and nurses, Keyshia succumbed to her life-threatening injuries. She passed away, leaving a massive hole in the hearts of everyone who knew her. A young life, full of promise, wiped out by a single reckless act.
Meanwhile, the coward who did this is still out there. Police confirm the unknown vehicle tore off down the road, heading southbound into the shadows. The Hartford Police Crime Scene Division has completely taken over the investigation. They are actively hunting for the runaway car and the driver who refused to do the right thing.
The authorities are pleading with the public for any clues. Somebody out there knows exactly what happened. Somebody knows who came home early Saturday morning with fresh damage to their front bumper. If you know anything about this terrible hit-and-run, Hartford Police want you to call their tip line at 860-722-8477. It is time to bring some justice for Keyshia.
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