Person of interest in fatal hit-run now a suspect

ROCHESTER - City police told The Lebanon Voice on Tuesday that the man connected to a pickup truck involved in a fatal bicyclist hit-and-run earlier this month is now officially a suspect in the case.

The man's name has not been released, however, and he has not been charged, according to Rochester Police.

"We are continuing to build our case," said Rochester Police Capt. Gary Boudreau, who would not comment on whether police had interviewed the suspect.

Jeffrey Howarth, 51, was fatally struck in the area of the southbound onramp at the intersection of Farmington Road and the Spaulding Turnpike around 12:30 a.m. on May 7.

The truck, reported to be a green Dodge Ram pickup, was found in the area of New York Avenue in Dover, and impounded later the same day.

Police said early on that the truck would have sustained significant front-end damage including a broken headlight in the crash.

Police said the truck was headed east from Farmington when the collision occurred.

It was also reported by police that Howarth had no lighting on his bike.