Skip to content
NOWCAST NewsCenter 5 at 7
Live Now
Advertisement

Victim, suspected driver in fatal hit-and-run pedestrian crash identified

Victim, suspected driver in fatal hit-and-run pedestrian crash identified
AS EVIDENCE. A SOUTH END PARKING GARAGE ATTENDANT SNAPPING THESE PHOTOS THIS AFTERNOON OF STATE POLICE TOWING AWAY A DAMAGED MERCEDES. AUTO RECORDS SHOW IT BELONGS TO THE DRIVER INVOLVED IN LAST NIGHT'S HIT-AND-RUN IN SOMERVILLE THAT KILLED A WOMAN IN HER EARLY 50'S. >> ONCE THE STATE TROOPER TOLD ME THIS WAS THE CAR THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE HIT-AND-RUN, AND I AUTOMATICALLY KNEW THAT THIS MUST HAVE BEEN THE CAR. ADAM: OFFICIALS SAY THE OWNER IS THE MAN WHO TURNED HIMSELF IN SUNDAY. THE ATTENDANT SAYS HIS CAR WAS TUCKED AWAY IN A DARK CORNER OF THE GARAGE IN A SPOT WHERE NO ONE EVER PARKS. >> THAT CAR WAS PARKED IN THE CORNER VERY TIGHT. WHOEVER PARKED IT THERE PARKED IT PURPOSELY. ADAM: TURNS OUT HE IS THE SUPERVISOR OF THAT VERY SAME GARAGE. HIS EMPLOYEE SAYS IT ALL ADDS UP. >> I DID WONDER WHEN THEY WERE TAKING THE CAR OUT OF HERE, WHY WOULD SOMEONE PICK THIS GARAGE TO PARK A CAR IN. NOW IT MAKES SENSE. ADAM: STILL, HE CAN'T BELIEVE HIS BOSS WAS INVOLVED. A REFRAIN ECHOED BY A NEIGHBOR WHO SAID HE'S KNOWN HIM FOR A DECADE. >> HE DON'T DRINK. HE DON'T NOTHING. I DON'T KNOW HOW SOMETHING TRAGIC LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? ADAM: IT'S OUT OF CHARACTER. >> IT'S OUT OF CHARACTER. >> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT -- THAT IT WAS HIM. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE. ADAM: AND POLICE SAY THE VICTIM IS 52-YEAR-OLD CHERYL PAULINE RICHARDS OF SOMERVILLE. MEANTIME, THAT SUSPECT IS DUE IN COURT TOMORROW. WE'RE L
Advertisement
Victim, suspected driver in fatal hit-and-run pedestrian crash identified
Massachusetts State Police are investigating a hit-and-run pedestrian crash that killed a 52-year-old Somerville woman.The suspected driver turned himself in Sunday morning. Zewdu Abate Gedamu, 64, of Roxbury, has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash causing personal injury or death and a crosswalk violation.Police said the victim, later identified as Cheryl Pauline Richards, was struck shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday on Mystic Avenue in the area of Stop & Shop, south of Route 28.Richards was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where she was later pronounced dead. Police believe the victim was in the crosswalk when she was struck by the vehicle, which continued south after the crash. A Stop & Shop employee told Adam Bagni, of NewsCenter 5, that he heard a loud crash and saw a dark-colored vehicle stop for a few seconds when he turned around. The witness also said he saw the driver put his head in his hands before taking off in the direction of Interstate 93 south.State police said Gedamu was driving a 2008 Mercedes-Benz E350 at the time of the crash.Gedamu was booked Sunday at the Medford State Police Barracks. A bail clerk ordered that he be held on $1,000 cash bail. Gedamu is expected to be arraigned Monday in Somerville District Court.The crash remains under state police investigation.

Massachusetts State Police are investigating a hit-and-run pedestrian crash that killed a 52-year-old Somerville woman.

The suspected driver turned himself in Sunday morning. Zewdu Abate Gedamu, 64, of Roxbury, has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash causing personal injury or death and a crosswalk violation.

Advertisement

Police said the victim, later identified as Cheryl Pauline Richards, was struck shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday on Mystic Avenue in the area of Stop & Shop, south of Route 28.

Richards was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where she was later pronounced dead.

Police believe the victim was in the crosswalk when she was struck by the vehicle, which continued south after the crash.

A Stop & Shop employee told Adam Bagni, of NewsCenter 5, that he heard a loud crash and saw a dark-colored vehicle stop for a few seconds when he turned around. The witness also said he saw the driver put his head in his hands before taking off in the direction of Interstate 93 south.

State police said Gedamu was driving a 2008 Mercedes-Benz E350 at the time of the crash.

Gedamu was booked Sunday at the Medford State Police Barracks. A bail clerk ordered that he be held on $1,000 cash bail. Gedamu is expected to be arraigned Monday in Somerville District Court.

The crash remains under state police investigation.