Crossing guard dies after being hit by car

WINSTED — An off-duty Winsted crossing guard who was hit by a car Jan. 20 died from her injuries last week after spending five days in a coma.

According to police, Susan Centrella was crossing Main Street near Kent Pizza (536 Main St.) on Jan. 20 around 7:30 p.m., when she was struck by an eastbound vehicle driven by Winsted resident James Weiler.

Centrella was given medical attention at the scene by Winsted Area Ambulance and then flown to Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford via LifeStar helicopter, where it was determined that her spinal cord had been severed and she had received extensive brain damage. She was put on life support, which family members decided to terminate on Monday night.

Centrella had been a crossing guard for the past 22 years. She was the widow of Ralph Centrella, who died in 1992. Born in Manhattan, Sue spent most of her life in Winsted.

Weiler was cited for a windshield obstruction due to frost on his windshield, but no other charges have been announced. The spot where Centrella was reportedly crossing the street is not in a designated crosswalk.

Julie Weisberg contributed to this story.

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