A still image from a video Seymour police released over the weekend.
SEYMOUR — Police are asking for the public’s help to find the motorist who struck an elderly Shelton couple as they attempted to cross Route 67 Friday night (Dec. 10).
The impact killed 81-year-old James Tamborra of Shelton and badly injured his 81-year-old wife, Barbara.
St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury did not have information on Barbara Tamborra’s condition Monday, but police said a family member told them her condition had worsened since Saturday.
Police are looking for a dark-colored SUV, an Acura MDX, possibly a model released between 2014 and 2016. The vehicle has front-end damage, specifically to the driver’s side headlight and hood.
The Tamborras had just paid their respects during calling hours at Ward-Miller Funeral Home when they attempted to cross Route 67 under the direction of a Seymour police officer who was there to provide safe passage for mourners.
The vehicle approached the couple at a high rate of speed and nearly hit the police officer before hitting the Tamborras.
“Anybody that may have been in the area at the time and saw the vehicle and witnessed any erratic driving before or after the collision or saw the collision itself, or anybody with any knowledge of front end damage to the vehicle — please call us,” said said Seymour Police Commander David Parratt, who is leading the investigation.
Any witnesses or people with information are urged to call Parratt at 203 – 881-7610 or on his cell phone at 203 – 915‑2517, or the Seymour Police Tips Line at 203 – 881-7638. Callers can remain anonymous.Seymour Police Chief Paul Satkowski said detectives were in the area of the accident Monday continuing their search for info.
“We’re scouring any businesses and residents up and down Route 67 that may have video that may assist in the investigation, and possibly help ID the vehicle,” Satkowski said. “This could be a lengthy process, as detectives will be combing through any video they can find.”
The Route 67 corridor is home to numerous businesses and residences spanning from Seymour to Oxford — where Satkowski believes the vehicle in question potentially came from.
Police over the weekend released a seven-second video showing the alleged vehicle speeding through the frame.
An eyewitness told The Valley Indy that there was a line of about 20 people outside the funeral home when the crowd heard a loud impact and assumed two motor vehicles had collided. Onlookers were horrified upon the realization two people had been struck. He said he saw a gray, mid-sized SUV speed away from the scene. The Valley Indy agreed to withhold the name of the eyewitness from publication.
Satkowski said there is always a police officer stationed outside the funeral home during services to assist with traffic and people crossing the road. People park across the street at the Klarides Village shopping center if there’s no available parking at Miller-Ward.
Satkowski noted that Seymour’s accident reconstruction team, led by Parratt, along with a team from state police, completed a general processing of the scene Friday night. Seymour detectives are working the case, too, the chief said.
“Our goal is to bring closure and justice for the family, and that’s always our end goal,” Satkowski said. “We have to find out who was responsible for this horrific incident and hold them accountable for their actions.”
