A car struck and killed and 18-year-old pedestrian in Bethany on Christmas Day and the driver is facing charges including driving under the influence.
Robert Weidig Jr., 18, of Bethany, was walking on the right shoulder of Route 69 in the northbound direction when a car coming from behind him hit him at about 8 p.m., police said. He died of his injuries.
Police arrested the driver, Barbara Ross, 60, of Cheshire, and charged her with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to maintain a proper lane.
Friends say Weidig Jr. was headed to a home on the Litchfield Turnpike for a Christmas open house Bethany Dance and Music was hosting, but he never made it after the fatal accident.He was walking across the street with his brother at the time. Members of the group already at the party canceled the program scheduled for that night when the road was shut down after the accident, not knowing that it was one of their own who was killed.
Upon learning of the 18-year-old's death, the music group's leader posted that Bobby was an exceptional person and that they are grieving deeply.
The crash happened two tenths of a mile north of Hatfield Hill Road.
ACE Auto towed Ross's car from the scene.
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Ross's bond was set at $5,000 and she's scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 14.
The case remains under investigation.
