Branford Man Arrested in Crash That Killed Wife, a Former EH Employee

Branford Police have arrested the driver in the August 18, 2013 fatal car crash that killed Megan Mcauliffe, 28, of Laurel Hill Road in Branford. 

Mcauliffe had worked as the Community Development Coordinator for the Urban Renewal Agency in East Haven.

Mcauliffe's husband, Vincent Mauro, 31, of the same address, was arrested and charged with manslaughter in the second degree with a motor vehicle, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and failure to drive right, according to a police press release.

The department’s Accident Reconstruction officer, Jay Kaufman, determined that the vehicle, driven by Mauro, was traveling southbound on Brushy Plains Road at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the vehicle, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a large tree. 

Subsequent investigation that included the seizure of Mauro’s medical records indicated that Mauro had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .181 which is more than double of Connecticut’s legal limit of .08 BAC.

Officer Kaufman said “Although we have been able to analyze and make determinations from a large amount of physical evidence, we are still looking to interview people who may have information about the couple’s activities preceding the crash.”  

Chief Kevin Halloran said, “Our agency’s deepest sympathy goes out the to the Mcauliffe and Mauro families for the tragic loss of their beloved daughter and family member. However, the criminal justice system cannot ignore the fact that Vincent Mauro’s deliberate acts were a significant cause in Megan’s death.” 

Mauro was held on a $200,000 court set bond and will be arraigned in New Haven Court October 7 at 9am.