A Bridgeport woman accused of fatally striking an 80-year-old man with her car and then trying to flee police down Interstate 95 may have been on drugs or alcohol at the time, police say.
Ayanna Woodward, 29, appeared in court for her arraignment Monday at the Golden Hill Street courthouse in Bridgeport. She allegedly ran down David Hadden at the intersection of Boston and Mill Hill avenues late Friday afternoon.
Woodward faces charges of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. The judge ordered her held on $500,000 bond.
Friends and family gathered at Summerfield United Methodist Church Sunday night for a candlelight vigil to remember Hadden's life. They say Hadden was going out to run errands when the crash happened.
"He was a very compassionate person, very loving person, a person who would give you the shirt off his back," Rev. Herron Gaston said afterward.
Rev. Gaston described Hadden's slaying as a loss for the church community. He said funeral arrangements were being made at Dennis and D'Arcy Funeral Home in Stratford.