The man accused of killing a woman and injuring another in a rollover crash in East Boston over the weekend faced a judge Monday morning.
Dylan Etheridge, 22, was arrested Sunday after officials responded to the fatal crash at about 1:15 a.m. The incident took place on Bennington Street, where authorities said a gray car with "extensive damage" was found lying on its roof.
The woman who was killed, who was one of the car's occupants, was declared dead at the scene. She was identified Tuesday as 20-year-old Amber Pelletier of Central Falls, Rhode Island.
The surviving passenger was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Etheridge fled the scene before police arrived but was located about 8 hours later and arrested, according to Boston police.
He was charged with homicide by motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident after causing personal injury and leaving the scene of an accident after causing property damage.
Prosecutors said Etheridge hit four or five parked cars and may have been traveling at 80 mph. They said they may bring drunken driving charges against him at some point because there is evidence he and the others had been drinking at bars in East Boston prior to the crash.
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"It appears that the vehicle was traveling at a very high rate of speed, perhaps 80 or 90 miles per hour," said assistant district attorney Nathan McGregor during Etheridge's arraignment in East Boston Municipal Court.
Authorities say Etheridge had gone to a friend's house after the crash.
"She noted that he had a bloody face, and he came into the residence and cleaned himself up," said McGregor.
Police said when Etheridge was found at Massachusetts General Hospital, he had already hired his attorney, Peter Marano.
Outside of court, Marano said his client didn't flee the scene but was confused after getting injured himself.
"Make no mistake. My heart breaks for the family. This is a tragedy," said defense attorney Peter Marano. "But first and foremost, this is an accident. This isn't a homicide, this isn't a murder, this is an accident with 20-year-olds."
A not guilty plea was entered on Etheridge's behalf and he was released on $1,000 bail.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
