Victim, suspect identified day after hit-and-run crash kills Somerville woman

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — State Police have identified the two people involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash in Somerville that left one woman dead on Saturday night.

That woman has been identified as 52-year-old Cheryl Pauline Richards of Somerville. Richards passed away after being transported to Mass. General Hospital on Saturday.

She was struck while in a crosswalk, police say, in the area of a Stop and Shop on Mystic Avenue around 8 p.m.

In a press release Sunday afternoon, State Police said the suspected driver turned himself in and will face charges. Later on Sunday, police identified that suspect as Zewdu Abate Gedamu, 64, of Roxbury.

Gedamu has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash causing personal injury or death as well as a crosswalk violation. He is being held on $1,000 cash bail and will be arraigned on Monday in Somerville District Court.

State Police added that they are no longer asking for the public’s help in seeking the suspect's vehicle. Gedamu was driving a 2008 Mercedes-Benz E350 at the time of the crash.

Related: 1 dead, 1 rescued in Roxbury after firefighters battled flames in extreme heat

That car was located by police in a parking garage four miles from the scene; it has since been towed away for processing. Boston 25 News has learned that Gedamu is a supervisor at that garage located in Boston's South End.

An employee at that garage - who asked to not have his identity released - told Boston 25 News that the car was hidden out of plain view in a corner on the second lower level.

"There was an obvious impact on the windshield," he said.

"There was front end damage, the glass was cracked..."

The victim's brother told Boston 25 News that Richards was originally from Long Island, N.Y. but lived in Boston since attending college more than three decades ago.

"We know she didn't drive, she walked everywhere, whether it was to Home Depot or over to the grocery store or over to the malls to do anything," said Dawn, the victim's neighbor.

"Even if you're late to an appointment, pull over. Stop. Call and let whoever know that you're going to be late. There's nothing that important that you have to rush for it."

Cox Media Group