Fatal accident claims life of Canton woman

Police have identified the pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run accident on Chapman Street on Thursday, November 7, as Sandra Johnson, 63, of 563 Chapman Street.

The accident occurred at 6:20 p.m. in cold, rainy conditions on a busy part of Chapman Street near the Canton Junction train station. Police Chief Ken Berkowitz said Johnson was attempting to cross the street near Chapman and Wattles streets when she was hit by a car driven by Timothy P. Ciriello, 19, of Norwood.

Ciriello was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Berkowitz said Ciriello, who was driving a white Mercury sedan, fled the scene but returned a short time later to inquire about what he had hit. His friend, who was a passenger in the vehicle, reportedly pleaded with Ciriello to stop and returned to the scene on foot.

Fire Lt. Donald Lester said two Canton ambulances responded and found one resident administering CPR to the victim. Johnson apparently had a flashlight and had been using it to warn drivers while attempting to make her way across the street. Johnson, who struck the windshield of Ciriello’s vehicle, was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Chapman Street was blocked for several hours following the accident as Canton police officers, in conjunction with members of the Massachusetts State Police reconstruction team, investigated the incident. Berkowitz said Tuesday morning that the investigation is still ongoing.

Ciriello pleaded not guilty to the charges in Stoughton District Court on Friday, and his bail was set at $10,000. Berkowitz said Ciriello was still in custody as of Tuesday morning pending other criminal matters in a different court jurisdiction. Neither Ciriello nor his passenger was hurt in the accident.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Nov 14 2013. Filed under News, Police & Fire. Both comments and pings are currently closed.