PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND: Caitlin Kelly, a 27-year-old woman from Rhode Island has been charged with a fatal hit-and-run that killed an 85-year-old woman in Providence.
The incident happened on October 4, 2023, and Kelly has been accused of breaching her duty to stop following the accidents resulting in personal injury.
It is a felony that could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison.
How did Caitlin Kelly hit and kill Vanda Makovetskiy?
Vanda Makovetskiy, a beloved octogenarian, was walking across North Main Street with her husband Anisim Makovetskiy, 93.
They were almost on the curb when a car driven by Kelly “came out of nowhere at a very high rate of speed” and struck Vanda, according to her son-in-law Michael Deshaies.
Caitlin Kelly did not stop her car and fled the scene.
Deshaies said the car clipped Makovetskiy as her husband helped her up onto the sidewalk. She was thrown to the ground upon impact.
Vanda was taken to Rhode Island Hospital where she died after four hours.
How did cops catch Caitlin Kelly?
The police have not released the details of their investigation that led them to Kelly.
However, they announced that she was arrested and charged with breaching her duty to stop in accidents resulting in personal injury, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
She was also issued a traffic citation for failing to report the accident.
She was detained pending arraignment in Providence District Court as per Law and Crime.
How did Vanda Makovetskiy's family react?
The family of Vanda Makovetskiy was devastated by her sudden death.
Her husband Anisim, who immigrated with her from Ukraine in 1995, was left alone and heartbroken.
“His life has been changed forever,” Deshaies said as per WPRI.
“He’s been crying. His whole world has been completely shattered,” he added.
Her daughter and Deshaies’ wife were also grief-stricken. “She’s their only child,” Deshaies said. “My wife is a complete mess.”
Deshaies said that Vanda was a “vibrant senior citizen who was enjoying life to the fullest” and that she and her husband were known for their ritual morning walks, hand in hand, which they did every day since coming to Providence 28 years ago.
“She made me feel special and like I was part of the family,” he said. “From the moment I met her, she showed me love.”
He also expressed his anger and disbelief that Kelly did not stop after hitting Vanda.
“We really need to get this person off the street before they do it to somebody else,” he said. “Nobody should get away with something like this.”
“She was 85 years old, but she was happy and healthy and living life,” he continued. “She was robbed of another good 10 years at least,” he added.
