Late on the night of January 9, a quiet stretch of South Avenue in Stratford became the scene of sudden tragedy. Around 1 a.m., Stratford police were called to reports that two pedestrians had been struck by a vehicle that failed to stop. When officers reached the scene, they found the two people gravely hurt and immediately called emergency crews. Both victims were rushed to local hospitals in serious condition.
One of the victims, 35-year-old James Keno Davis, who lived in Brooklyn, New York, clung to life through the chaos that followed, but his injuries proved too severe. On January 10, medical staff pronounced him dead, leaving family, friends and strangers to grapple with the shock of losing someone in such a sudden, senseless way.
The second pedestrian remains hospitalized and in serious condition. Details about their identity have not been released, but police say they continue to receive treatment as the community hopes for recovery.
In the aftermath of the crash, investigators worked to piece together what happened. Stratford police traced the fleeing vehicle to a Bridgeport address, where they found a black Chevrolet truck with clear heavy damage to its front end — the kind that matched up with the collision’s impact.
At the Bridgeport location, officers identified 56-year-old Kevin O’Neill as the truck’s owner and the driver involved in the incident. Police say O’Neill walked into the station and acknowledged he had been driving at the time of the crash, a rare and crucial moment in hit-and-run cases that often go cold quickly.
O’Neill was charged with evading responsibility resulting in serious physical injury and operating an unregistered motor vehicle. He posted a $1,000 bond and was released pending a court date scheduled for January 23 in Bridgeport’s Superior Court. Prosecutors have not said whether more charges could be added as the investigation continues.
Stratford police continue to urge anyone with information about that early-morning crash to come forward. Officer Long, who is leading the investigation, can be reached through the department with tips that might clarify exactly how and why that night turned fatal for Davis.
Now more than ever, friends and community members are left reflecting on Davis’s life — and the night that changed so many forever.
