Left: Caitlin Kelly (Providence Police Department) Right: Vanda Makovetskiy (Obituary)
A young Rhode Island woman has been charged in a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a beloved octogenarian earlier this month.
Caitlin Kelly, 27, stands accused of breaching her duty to stop in accidents resulting in personal injury – a felony that could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison. She was also issued a traffic citation for failing to report the incident, Providence police say.
The charges stem from the Oct. 4 death of Vanda Makovetskiy, 85, who was walking across North Main Street in Providence when she was struck by a car that didn't bother to stop. The victim was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries.
Makovetskiy's sudden death is a massive loss for her husband, Anisim Makovetskiy, 93, according to son-in-law Michael Deshaies.
"His life has been changed forever," her daughter's husband told Providence-based CBS affiliate WPRI. "He's been crying. His whole world has been completely shattered."
"My wife is a complete mess," Deshaies added. "She's their only child."
The incident occurred just near Makovetskiy's apartment last Wednesday morning. The loving couple had almost made it across the street and onto the curb when the car in question "came out of nowhere at a very high rate of speed," Deshaies told the TV station.
The 85-year-old was thrown to the ground and died after roughly four hours in the hospital, her obituary says.
"She was a vibrant senior citizen who was enjoying life to the fullest," the eulogy reads. "She will be missed by her husband Anisim whom she immigrated with to the United States from Ukraine in 1995. They were both known throughout East Providence for their ritual morning walks, hand in hand which they did every morning since coming to Providence 28 years ago."
Deshaies said the victim's family was "shocked and outraged" that the driver did not stop, WPRI reported.
"We really need to get this person off the street before they do it to somebody else," the son-in-law of the victim added. "Nobody should get away with something like this."
Law enforcement has yet to release details of their investigation that tied Kelly to the the crime.
Law&Crime reached out to the PPD for additional details and comment on this story but no response was immediately forthcoming.
As of last week, the defendant was being detained pending arraignment in Providence District Court, police said.
Rhode Island court records do not currently show a docket for the felony offense – though Kelly's case for the traffic violation is online.
Deshaies said the woman who welcomed him into her family with open arms simply left the world too soon.
"Healthy and happy and living life," he continued. "And she was robbed of another good 10 years at least."
The son-in-law also mused about the victim's final walk.
"They take this same walk together, hand in hand, at 6 o'clock every single morning," Deshaies went on. "They walk this same route."