Westport Woman, Marathon Runner Dies Suddenly in Hamden

Update, Wednesday, July 17
By Caitlin Mazzola

The Westport woman who died suddenly Monday in Hamden was identified as Meskerem Legesse, 26, a professional marathon runner who ran in the 2012 Olympics for Ethiopia. 

WFSB reports Legesse was eating at a Chinese restaurant on Dixwell Avenue in Hamden Monday when she collapsed. 

Legesse was expecting her second child within the next few weeks. Emergency crews performed CPR and took Legesse to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to WFSB. 

The baby was delivered by hospital staff. 

For more, read the WFSB report. 

Original Post, Tuesday, July 16
By Kathleen Ramunni

A pregnant Westport woman died in Hamden on Monday, but rescue personnel were able to deliver her baby, according to police.

Details are scarce, but according to Hamden Police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith police were called to the 900 block of Dixwell Avenue at about 2 p.m. Monday for a medical complaint.

When they got there, Hamden Fire Department rescue personnel were performing CPR on the 26-year-old woman, Smith said.

An AMR ambulance took her to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where she was pronounced dead a short time later, Smith said.

"Efforts of the Hamden Fire Department and American Medical Response enabled hospital personnel to deliver the baby," Smith said Tuesday.

The woman's name hasn't yet been released. Fire Chief David Berardesca couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.