UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Dustin Tanta-Quidgeon was starting to feel that his life was finally moving in the right direction when he was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Groton, according to his family.
Tanta-Quidgeon, 39, of Uncasville, died Aug. 7 after being struck by a vehicle on Toll Gate Road near Crawford Lane. Witnesses told police the vehicle, described as a black SUV, left the scene after the crash.
His cousin, Kevin Bradham of Bangor, Pennsylvania, said Tanta-Quidgeon had recently moved back to Connecticut and was doing well.
“He was just moving back to Connecticut, and he finally had his trajectory up,” Bradham said. “He was doing so well. Things were starting to look up for him.”
The crash was reported at about 11:15 p.m. on Aug. 7 after emergency dispatchers received several 911 calls about a pedestrian being struck. A witness who was also an emergency medical technician began lifesaving efforts before additional emergency personnel arrived. Tanta-Quidgeon was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the vehicle involved was believed to be a black SUV and that investigators were working to identify both the vehicle and its driver. The Southeastern Connecticut Regional Traffic Unit assisted Groton police with the investigation, and Toll Gate Road was closed while investigators examined the crash scene.
As of the latest update, the investigation remains open. Groton Deputy Chief Paul Gately said there were no additional details to release.
Family remembers Tanta-Quidgeon as outgoing and close to his relatives
Bradham described his cousin as someone who was “always the life of the party,” while also acknowledging that Tanta-Quidgeon had experienced difficult periods in his life.
Bradham said Tanta-Quidgeon lost his brother when he was young and later moved from Virginia to Connecticut. The family also has ties to the Mohegan Tribe, and Bradham said he and Tanta-Quidgeon were direct descendants of Chief Uncas, the historic leader associated with the Mohegan people.
The cousins grew up close and attended tribal camps, powwows and other family and tribal gatherings together.
Bradham recalled spending time with Tanta-Quidgeon as children, including making skateboard videos with an old VHS camera his father had given them.
Even after Bradham moved to Pennsylvania, the two stayed in contact, occasionally reconnecting at tribal events and family gatherings.
“He was always the life of the party,” Bradham said, remembering the personality his cousin brought to those gatherings.
Music was one of Tanta-Quidgeon’s passions
Music was another important part of Tanta-Quidgeon’s life, according to Bradham.
Although he never turned music into a career, Bradham said it remained a passion and hobby that brought Tanta-Quidgeon happiness.
For his family, those memories are now an important part of how they want him to be remembered — not simply as the victim of a fatal hit-and-run, but as a person with family, interests and a history of his own.
Investigation into fatal crash continues
The circumstances surrounding Tanta-Quidgeon’s death remain under investigation.
Police have asked anyone who witnessed the crash or has information that could help identify the vehicle or driver to contact the Groton Police Department at 860-441-6712. Earlier reports confirmed that investigators were still pursuing leads and had not publicly identified a suspect.
No funeral plans had been finalized in the latest family update. Bradham said the Mohegan Tribe plans to hold a four-day sacred fire ceremony where people can gather and pay their respects.
Bradham said he hopes people remember Tanta-Quidgeon for the good times they shared.
“We all had fun — we were all close-knit,” he said.
For those who knew him, that family connection and the memories built over years now remain alongside the unanswered questions surrounding the crash.
Sources: Groton police information as reported and CT Insider; family information provided by Kevin Bradham.
