Arrest made in connection with crash

West Hartland man turns himself in at Troop B

NORTH CANAAN » An arrest has been made in connection with a motor vehicle accident that killed a 23-year-old Riverton man in May 2016. Thomas McGee, 49, of 135 Riverton Road, West Hartland, was arrested Tuesday and charged with evading responsibility in connection with the motor vehicle accident on May 20, 2016, in Barkhamsted that killed Zachary Dube.

McGee turned himself in on an active arrest warrant at the Troop B barracks in North Caanan, police said. He was later released on a $2,500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Bantam Superior Court on June 27.

Dube was riding a dirt bike near the Log House Restaurant in Barkhamsted on the evening of May 20, when the driver of a magnetic gray Toyota Tacoma attempted to make a left turn on Route 44 and struck him, according to police.

Dube suffered serious injuries in the crash and was taken to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington.

State police said that after the collision, the truck driver pulled

into the Log House Restaurant parking lot, then drove out of the lot heading west on Route 44 toward Winsted.

The Tacoma was last seen by two witnesses turning onto Route 318 in Barkhamsted.

State police located and impounded the vehicle on May 23, 2016.

According to Connecticut law, violation of statute 14224(b)(2), which McGee is charged with, carries a fine of between $75 and $600 and could lead to a prison sentence of up to five years, if convicted.

Beth Mehmel-Dube, Zachary’s mother, said Thursday that she was glad the arrest was made, but it doesn’t soothe the pain she has suffered over the loss of her son.

“This has been very painful,” said Mehmel-Dube. “He was a pretty amazing kid. we’re all pretty busted up about this.”

Mehmel-Dube has coped with the loss, she said, with the belief that Zachary had finished his business on Earth, and gone on to something more important. She has the sense that he continues to help her heal to this day, she said.

“My life will never be the way it was again... I try to find a new normal,” said Mehmel-Dube. “I would like to think he’s on another plane right now, and I will be with him again.”

It has been a struggle for the family, she said, during a tumultuous time in their life.

“We miss him dreadfully,” said Mehmel-Dube.

Zachary, known as Zak, lived with integrity, compassion, and was full of love, she said.

As a small child, he was easy — she took him with her as she began a business, and he demonstrated an ability to acclimate that he carried with him into adulthood.

A number of people, she said, had made clear the impact Zak had on their lives in the weeks and months after his death.

“When kids needed a lift, he was a leader,” said Mehmel-Dube. “I was very proud of my son... he was a gift.”

“This has been very painful. He [Zachary] was a pretty amazing kid, we’re all pretty busted up about this.”

— Beth Mehmel-Dube Mother of Zachary Dube

Thomas McGee