December 11, 2025 – Springfield, Massachusetts – On Friday, December 5, 2025, at approximately 6:20 p.m., Springfield Police Department officers responded to the area of State and Federal Streets for a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. The adult female victim was transported to Baystate Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries.

The victim has been identified as Sylvia Gladden, 58, of Springfield.

The driver involved fled the scene. Members of the Springfield Police Department Traffic Unit and the Hampden District Attorney’s Office Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit initiated a joint investigation. Through traffic-camera footage and subsequent investigative work, both the vehicle and the driver were identified.

On Monday, Dec. 8, the driver surrendered herself to authorities. She has been identified as Janel Wedley, 27, of Springfield. She is being charged with leaving the scene of personal injury resulting in death. The vehicle has been recovered. Wedley is presumed innocent of all allegations until proven guilty.

The matter remains under active investigation by the Hampden District Attorney’s Office Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni expresses his sympathies to the victim’s family.