Police: Man arrested in connection with Greenport fatal accident

Southold police say they have arrested a Greenport resident in connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident on Monday.

News 12 Staff

Jul 15, 2020, 1:39 PM

Updated 1,620 days ago

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Southold police say they have arrested a Greenport resident in connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident on Monday.
Police say Denilson Eduardo Gomez-Jolon, 20, fatally struck 87-year-old Elaine Schwartz and drove off.
They say Schwartz was legally crossing Front Street in Greenport Monday morning when she was struck.
Later in the evening, a Southold police officer spotted the vehicle involved in the incident on Route 25 as it entered Greenport Village. A traffic stop was initiated and based on the investigation, the driver was arrested, police say.
Authorities say witness accounts of the incident and surveillance footage helped police make the arrest. 
According to court documents, Gomez-Jolon made a statement to police saying that he is in the country illegally, didn't see the woman until after he hit her, and he thought that she was OK.
Gomez-Jolon is charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and obstructed view. He was arraigned on Tuesday and released on his own recognizance. 
Schwartz was a renowned educator and a resident of Peconic Landing Retirement Community.