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Brother of lieutenant governor injured in Guilford hit-and-run crash

GUILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Guilford police are asking for surveillance video that may have captured a hit-and-run crash that left a bicyclist injured on Saturday afternoon.

John Bysiewicz, the brother of Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz (D-Conn.) and a well-known road race organizer, was riding his bicycle when the lieutenant governor said he was hit by a car.

“We appreciate the many good wishes that we’ve had,” she said. “He’s suffered some significant injuries, and our family is very encouraged that yesterday [Tuesday] he was awake and talking.”

John Bysiewicz was riding his bicycle in the 400 block of Leetes Island Road around 3:35 p.m. Saturday, when he was struck by a black 2018 Honda Accord Sport with Connecticut registration, which sent him over the embankment, police said.

The driver, later identified by police as 30-year-old R. Neal Stom, allegedly took off. Police later found Stom at his Branford home and arrested him for evading responsibility and serious physical injury.

Police said a good Samaritan saw Bysiewicz and called for help.

Attorney Joel Faxon with the Faxon Law Group is representing the Bysiewicz family in this case and has known Bysiewicz for nearly two decades. The Faxon Law Group has been a long-time sponsor of the New Haven Road Race, one of many road races Bysiewicz organizes.

“Mr. Stom, my understanding, was an EMT or is an EMT, based on publicly available documents,” Faxon said. “It’s just astonishing to me and shocking to me that a person who has medical training would hit a human being and then evade the scene and not render emergency aid.”

On Wednesday, the Guilford Police Department asked homeowners and business owners on Route 146 between the intersection of Leetes Island Road and Sachems Head Road in Guilford to Limewood Avenue in Branford to check for surveillance video from Saturday, Nov. 12 between 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“If you saw this accident, if you know anything about this accident, please give us a call,” Guilford police Chief Butch Hyatt told News 8. “We’re looking for anybody along Leetes Island Road, between Sachems Head in Guilford, all the way out through Branford.”

Stom was released on a $100,000 bond and is due in court next week. News 8 went to his house in Branford, seeking comment but no one answered the door.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has surveillance video to call Guilford police at (203) 453-8062 or the anonymous tip line at (203) 453-8240.