[UPDATED] Teen Killed by Alleged Hit-And-Run Driver

A 16-year-old New Haven teenager was killed in East Haven Friday night after a driver allegedly hit the victim and then fled the scene of the accident, police said.

Christian Ngongi, 16, of 4 Birch Drive in New Haven, was pronounced dead at Yale-New Haven Hospital after he was struck by a vehicle at 9:14 p.m. while walking south along the western shoulder of Coe Avenue near Silver Sands Road in East Haven, according to East Haven Deputy Chief of Police John Mannion.

The cause of death was massive blunt force trauma, Mannion said. A friend walking with Ngongi at the time was not injured.

Ngongi was a student at in Milford, where he was was expected to begin to his senior year this week.

In a press release Saturday, school district administrators expressed their grief at the teenager's death, and described Ngongi as "well liked and a good student and a member of the track and cross country teams."

“We are devastated with the news about Christian,” commented Foran Principal John W. Barile. “Christian was a bright, talented young man with a promising future. He was always smiling, and had the support of a wonderful family. He will be greatly missed. At this sad time, we offer our heartfelt prayers to the Ngongi family and ask the community to continue to keep them in their thoughts.”

The district had grief counselors on hand last night at the high school. The school is also planning to have grief counselors on site on the first day of school, to support students and staff.

According to Mannion, the vehicle that struck Ngongi was a black 1998 Dodge Ram truck. After the pickup hit the teen it did not stop, but instead continued driving south on Coe Avenue, Mannion said.

The driver, Anthony Criscio, 51, of 12 Oregon Ave. in East Haven, later returned to the scene. Mannion said Criscio appeared to be intoxicated and was arrested.

Criscio was charged with second-degree manslaughter, operating under the influence, possession of marijuana and evading responsibility.

He currently is being held on $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

Mannion said when officers located Criscio's vehicle in his New Haven driveway, it reportedly had fresh impact damage to its windshield and right front headlight.

The truck was seized by officers and then towed back to the East Haven Police Department. Mannion said police intend to apply for a search warrant to process the vehicle for forensic evidence.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be added, Mannion said.

He added that anyone with information about the accident is asked to call the East Haven Police Department at 203-468-3820.