Local

Driver charged in hit and run crash that killed woman riding a bicycle in Salisbury

NEWBURYPORT, Mass. — A Salisbury District Court judge ordered 32-year-old Deven Tanguay of Tewksbury held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing for charges related to a deadly hit and run crash Friday night.

39-year-old Rebecca Bartczak of Amesbury was killed in the crash, which took place on Folly Mill Road in Salisbury at about 11:30 Friday night. Rebecca’s family said she was returning home from her job at a 99 Restaurant in Seabrook when she was fatally struck.

The crash took place in front of 81 Folly Mill Road, which is a slow two-lane country road.

Danielle Deveau said she heard the crash and the sound of a vehicle speeding away just before she ran out into her front yard where Rebecca Bartczak was lying face down on her front lawn.

“There was so much blood, it was terrible,” Deveau said. “I went over to her and checked her pulse. There was nothing. I was talking to her the whole time, even though I knew. I wanted to save her, there was no saving her.”

Police found evidence at the scene, including a pick-up truck camper bed that was knocked off its vehicle, which suggests a black Chevy pick-up was involved in the crash.

Within half an hour, police stopped Deven Tanguay’s heavily damaged pickup truck in Kensington, N.H. Police say they found biological evidence on his truck that belonged to Rebecca Bartczak. Police added Tanguay did not appear to be impaired and was very calm when they interacted with him. He did not make a statement to police.

After Tanguay’s arraignment, victim Rebecca Bartczak’s heartbroken father tearfully demanded justice.

“All he had to do was do something. Man up. She died right there, he just left her to die,” Bartczak said. “He needs to pay the price. He needs to man up. Don’t need to be a coward. He was a coward when he ran away.”

Tanguay is due back in court on December 1 for a dangerousness hearing.

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