The Cranston Police Department has identified the woman struck and killed by a pickup truck early Sunday morning as Vaune Vacarro, a 56-year-old woman with a last known address in Utica, New York. The crash happened in Cranston in the early hours of January 11, turning a quiet stretch of roadway into the scene of a fatal investigation that is still unfolding.
Police Chief Michael J. Winquist said the identification was confirmed by the state Medical Examiner’s Office. While investigators now know her name, many parts of her story remain unclear. Police are trying to understand why Vacarro was in the area and what led her to be on the roadway when the truck struck her.
According to investigators, Vacarro died at the scene after being hit by the pickup truck. Details about the driver have not been publicly released, and police have not indicated that any charges have been filed as of now. The focus of the investigation remains on retracing Vacarro’s movements in the hours and days before her death.
As officers reached out to family members, they learned that Vacarro had not been seen or heard from in several years. Relatives described her as homeless and transient, a woman who moved frequently and lived largely off the radar.
Family members told police that Vacarro had lived in many states over the years. Those included Florida, California, Colorado, New York, Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Investigators believe this constant movement may make it harder to piece together how she arrived in Cranston and where she had been staying.
Police say they are now checking nearby homeless encampments and speaking with people who may have seen Vacarro before the crash. Officers are also following up on any tips that could help establish her path leading up to the moment she was struck.
Chief Winquist said the department is asking for the public’s help. Anyone who may have seen Vacarro, spoken with her, or noticed her in the area before the crash is urged to come forward. For investigators, even small details could help bring clarity to the final chapter of a life that crossed many states and ended on a dark Cranston roadway.
