John Marczak dies in fatal West Hartford pedestrian crash
John Marczak dies in fatal West Hartford pedestrian crash
Fatal West Hartford pedestrian crash death of John Marczak
A man identified as John Marczak, a 44-year-old resident of Plainville, has died after being struck in a hit-and-run incident on South Main Street in West Hartford on June 7, 2025.
According to Assistant Chief Larry Terra of the West Hartford Police, Marczak succumbed to his injuries at 4:50 a.m. on June 10. Authorities were informed of his passing by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Emergency responders were called to the 200 block of South Main Street around 2:04 a.m. on June 7, where Marczak was discovered unresponsive in the roadway. He was treated at the scene and then taken to a local hospital with what police described as severe injuries.
Evidence at the scene confirmed the involvement of a vehicle, but the driver had fled by the time officers arrived.
The West Hartford Police Department’s Accident Reconstruction Team investigated the case and gathered surveillance video that helped identify the vehicle and driver involved. Later that same day, June 7, authorities located and arrested the suspect based on a warrant.
The driver, 22-year-old Juan Pablo Novoa of Cromwell, now faces multiple charges, including evading responsibility resulting in serious injury, obstruction due to a damaged windshield, and tampering with evidence. Court records indicate he was released after posting a $500,000 bond, and he is expected to appear in Hartford Superior Court on July 14.
Marczak, formerly of Newington, graduated from the Fox Institute and worked as a senior full stack software developer. He leaves behind his daughters, Ariana and Giana Marczak; his mother, Julia LaFlamme; his sisters, Tamara LaFlamme and Kathleen Conniff (along with her husband Chris), as well as numerous extended family members.
Authorities are continuing their investigation and ask anyone with details to contact the West Hartford Police Department or submit tips through their anonymous lines.
This fatality marks the second pedestrian death in West Hartford in 2025. Just days earlier, another pedestrian, Stephen Mendelsohn, was killed in a separate crash on June 1 near South Main Street and New Britain Avenue.
In 2024, West Hartford saw three pedestrian deaths due to vehicle collisions, highlighting growing concerns over road safety. The town has committed to its Vision Zero Action Plan aimed at eliminating serious injuries and deaths on local roads by 2033.
Efforts under the Vision Zero plan include both immediate and long-term changes to traffic infrastructure. These measures are in response to several tragic crashes in recent years, including a deadly two-car accident in December 2022 and a pedestrian death in June 2022.