Man Claims Self-Defense Against Woman Stuck to His Car When He Tried to Drive Away

Published - Jun 14 2012 09:55AM CST

Associated Press

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A man was accused of fleeing a hit-and-run accident with the victim still attached to his fender and fighting to get free.
A van driven by Frank Rega struck a 23-year-old woman who was standing in front of a disabled car in Bridgeport on March 15, police said. The woman became stuck on the driver's side fender, but Rega drove off, even as she was yelling at him and hitting him in the face in an attempt to get him to stop, police said.
She eventually fell off the van, struck the roadway and suffered a head injury, police said. She was treated and released from St. Vincent's Medical Center.
Rega, 56, of Monroe, faces numerous charges including reckless endangerment, reckless driving, evading responsibility and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the Connecticut Post reported (http://bit.ly/Lmjt67). He was released after posting a $500 bond.
Monroe police arrested Rega at his home. As they were handcuffing him, he told officers he had acted in self-defense, police said.
A message seeking comment was left for Rega at his home Thursday. He was scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.
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