Sylvia Gladden, 58, Dies in Fatal Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Collision on State Street in Springfield, Massachusetts - December 6, 2025

A fatal hit-and-run pedestrian incident occurred on December 6, 2025, in the area of State Street and Federal Street in Springfield, Massachusetts, resulting in the death of a local resident and the subsequent arrest of the fleeing driver. According to the Springfield Police Department, emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection following reports of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, police located an injured female pedestrian at the scene who was immediately transported to Baystate Medical Center for emergency medical treatment. The vehicle operator fled the scene immediately following the collision, prompting a comprehensive investigation by law enforcement authorities.

Sylvia Gladden, a 58-year-old female resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, was identified as the pedestrian victim who sustained fatal injuries in the collision. Gladden succumbed to her injuries at Baystate Medical Center. According to Payton North, spokesperson for the Hampden District Attorney's Office, investigators utilized traffic camera footage and conducted a subsequent investigation to identify both the vehicle involved in the incident and its operator. On December 9, 2025, the driver, identified as Janel Wedley, 27, of Springfield, surrendered to police custody, and the vehicle was recovered by authorities. Wedley has been charged with leaving the scene of personal injury resulting in death. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal hit-and-run collision remains active and ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine evidence and witness statements related to the incident.