Driver sentenced in fatal New Britain pedestrian crash

The archive video above aired on July 13, 2023.

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) — A man charged with running another man over with his car, killing him, and leaving the scene, was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison, according to court documents.

Jose Rios, 52, of New Britain, was arrested for murder and first-degree assault resulting in serious injury in July of 2023. He pleaded guilty to both charges and was found guilty on both over this summer.

BACKGROUND: Man charged with murder admitted to running over victims in New Britain: court documents

On Thursday, Rios was sentenced to 25 years on the murder charge and 20 years on the assault charge. The New Britain Court Clerk's Office said the sentences will be served concurrently, for a total of 25 years.

When he was first arrested , New Britain police said an argument led up to Rios intentionally hitting two men with his vehicle in the evening of July 11, 2023, at the corner of Park and Stanley Streets.

According to officials with the City of New Britain, one of the men died. He was identified as 59-year-old Bruce Cote of New Britain.

While speaking with police at the time of the incident, Rios said he had had "issues" with Cote in the past and he did not know the other man, according to court documents. The second victim tried to shake Rios' hand, and when Rios said no, Rios said the other man "kept running his mouth."

"We then squared up and he dropped me twice and I dropped him one time," Rios' written statement read.

According to the statement, Cote then congratulated his friend, which "bothered" Rios.

"I got into my gray Ford Escape, and they were walking, and I drove over them," Rios' statement reads. "I then drove home. I feel bad for what I did. No one deserved to die."