NAP- Neighborhood Alliance of Pawtucket

They got the guy who hit, ran & killed the dancer!

Posted in: NAP- Neighborhood Alliance of Pawtucket
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Cops: Fatal hit and run driver under arrest E-mail

on 07-21-2009 03:47  

 

By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — A 20-year-old Attleboro man has been arrested in connection with the hit-and-run accident early Sunday morning that claimed the life of Joseph Zalusky of Pawtucket.

Following an investigation by the Pawtucket Police Detective Bureau, an arrest warrant was issued on Monday morning for Christopher Lynch, of 172 Richardson St., 3rd. Police said they plan to charge Lynch with duty to stop—accident resulting in personal injury/death.
As of Monday afternoon, Lynch was being held in Attleboro on a fugitive from justice warrant.
According to Pawtucket Police, information that was received and developed by detectives resulted in the location of the vehicle allegedly involved ion the fatal accident and the identification of Lynch as the operator. The investigation was headed by Det. Charles Devine.
On Sunday at around 1:05 a.m., Pawtucket Police responded to the corner of Mill Street and Newport Avenue for a report of a hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian. Officers found Zalusky, who appeared to be seriously injured, lying in the street.
Rescue responded and transported Zalusky, who lived on Kenyon Avenue, to the Rhode Island Hospital Trauma Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Pawtucket Police had asked for the public’s help in locating the striking vehicle. From evidence found at the scene and statements from eye witnesses, it was indicated that the vehicle was a 2001 to 2002 white or silver Pontiac Grand Am with front end damage and a driver’s side headlight that was either out or broken.

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date: Hit-run victim, 79, was known as 'Dancing Joe'5:00 PM Mon, Jul 20, 2009 | Permalink
Tatiana Pina    Email

PAWTUCKET, R.I.- - At Congregation Ohawe Shalom, people knew 79-year-old Joseph Zalusky as a tireless volunteer who was quick to take up whatever task needed to be done.

At Corinne's Banquet and More in Pawtucket where Joe liked to go on Fridays and Saturdays to listen to music and dance, his friends called him "Dancing Joe."

Joe didn't own a car, so he walked everywhere. He walked to Corinne's Saturday night and listened to the band Studio Drive, had a meal and danced with the ladies.

At around 1:30 Sunday morning he had left Corinne's and was crossing Newport Avenue to return to his house at the trailer park across the street when someone driving a vehicle struck him and fled.

The police found Zalusky lying in the street at Mill Street and Newport Avenue. An ambulance took him to Rhode Island Hospital, where he died shortly afterward.

Police today announced the arrest of the man they say is responsible for striking Zalusky. The suspect, Christopher Lynch, 20, of 172 Richardson St., is being held by Attleboro police as a fugitive from justice, the Pawtucket police said. Pawtucket police have obtained a warrant charging Lynch with failing to stop after an accident that resulted in death or injury.

The police said that the charges resulted from an investigation by Detective Charles Devine.

The Providence Journal has been following this story today as it develops. Our initial report was posted at 1:11 p.m.; it was updated at 4:40 p.m.

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Like the Journal said, Joe volunteered countless hours of his time to keep the shul cleaned and maintained. I've known him for quite a while but didn't know about the dancing part until I ran into him at a Steve Smith & The Nakeds concert at Corinne's earlier this year. He was a quiet, kind individual who probably didn't have a single enemy, and he will be sorely missed by many people.

 

I believe his nickname was "Disco Joe," not "Dancing Joe."

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He will be sadly missed I am sure, but he certainly lived life fully and Danced or Discoed!

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