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Stamford Police Investigator's Mother Killed In Easter Hit-And-Run Accident

STAMFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) - A woman has been arrested for a fatal hit-and-run accident in Stamford on Easter Sunday.

As WCBS 880's Paul Murnane reported, the victim was identified as Margarita Gonzalez, 70, the mother of a veteran Stamford police investigator.

Stamford Police Investigator's Mother Killed In Easter Hit-And-Run Accident

According to police, Gonzalez was leaving a family Easter gathering around 6:45 p.m. Sunday when she was fatally struck.

Yolanda McDowell, 45, allegedly pulled around stopped cars on Woodland Avenue and struck Gonzalez and another vehicle before feeling the scene, police said.

A witness followed McDowell's minivan and called 911, according to police.

"The operator did go out of her way and did follow, did everything we could have asked as far as getting a good description, confirming the license plate," Stamford Police Sgt. Andrew Gallagher said. "McDowell made several statements both to the investigators who arrested her and then a subsequent interview and did indicate that she did not know that she had struck a pedestrian."

McDowell was driving a borrowed Chrysler minivan, which was traced by the license plate number and found in her driveway.

She has been charged with manslaughter with a motor vehicle and felony evading responsibility. She was being held on $250,000 bond ahead of her arraignment Monday.

An investigation continues. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad.

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