Investigators say the SUV fled after striking 36-year-old Tomek Paluch.
BRISTOL, Conn. — Detectives on Friday said they are looking for a gray or silver Jeep Grand Cherokee with front and passenger-side damage in connection with a hit-and-run that killed bicyclist Tomek Paluch, 36, on Birch Street late Thursday afternoon.
Investigators said the crash unfolded at about 5:30 p.m. on the 200 block of Birch Street. Police believe an SUV first struck Paluch, throwing him into the roadway, and then drove off. A second motorist, who did not realize a collision had occurred, struck him moments later and stopped. Officers and firefighters found Paluch pinned beneath the second vehicle and worked with medics to free him. He was taken to Bristol Hospital and pronounced dead. Police have notified his family and said the case is being handled by the Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team.
Lt. Ulric Berube said the vehicle that left the scene is believed to be a Jeep Grand Cherokee in gray or silver, showing fresh damage to the front and passenger side. Detectives canvassed homes for footage on Birch Street and nearby side roads and reviewed debris collected from the roadway. “Our goal is to identify the initial vehicle and the person driving it at the time,” Berube said. The second driver, who remained at the scene, cooperated with statements and allowed investigators to examine the vehicle.
Authorities said key questions remain, including the speed of the SUV and where it traveled after the impact. The department did not release information about lighting or weather beyond dusk conditions, and it did not identify the second driver. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the exact cause and manner of death. Police also are reviewing whether any nearby businesses or buses passed through the corridor before or after the crash, which could provide additional camera angles of the Jeep’s route.
Birch Street links residential blocks to commercial corridors and commuter routes, carrying steady evening traffic. While city records reflect prior collisions along the road, fatal crashes involving cyclists are less common in the area. Police said reconstruction specialists often use 3D scene mapping and compare broken plastic and paint fragments to manufacturer databases to narrow probable models, a technique that has helped in past hit-and-run cases when a suspect vehicle was later found with matching damage.
If detectives locate a Jeep Grand Cherokee with compatible damage, they are expected to seek a court order to collect samples and download onboard data. From there, prosecutors would review findings and determine charges, which could include evading responsibility and additional counts depending on evidence. As of Monday, no arrests had been announced, and investigators planned to release an update after the preliminary reconstruction and lab reviews are complete.
Residents described a quiet stretch turned tense Thursday as emergency vehicles lined the block and tape sealed off the roadway. “It was very still once the lights were up,” said neighbor Anthony Rivera, who watched investigators mark the pavement and place evidence bags in a cruiser. “They worked for hours,” he said. Another passerby said traffic detoured onto side streets as officers redirected cars away from the scene.
Police said the next milestone will be the preliminary reconstruction summary and any development in the search for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. As of Monday morning, the search remained active and the investigation was continuing.
Author note: Last updated January 12, 2026.