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Hanson Woman Arraigned in Superior Court in Crash that Killed Runner from Hanover



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Contact:  Beth Stone- (508) 584-8120

BROCKTON – A Hanson woman has been arraigned on charges that she was behind the wheel and driving under the influence of drugs when she struck and killed a jogger from Hanover, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.

On April 28, 2016, a Plymouth County Grand Jury returned indictments and today, Kathleen M. Vitello (DOB: 05/01/63) of Hanson, was arraigned in Brockton Superior Court on one count each of Motor Vehicle Manslaughter and Motor Vehicle Homicide by Operation Under the Influence. Vitello, is currently being held on $50,000 cash bail, and is next scheduled to appear in court on September 23, 2016.

At approximately noon on December 23, 2015, Hanson Police received numerous 911 calls reporting a motor vehicle crash with ejection in the area of 854 Winter Street. Police responded to find that a motor vehicle had struck a pedestrian and snapped a utility pole in half. The female pedestrian was identified as 32-year-old Amanda Turner Russell of Hanover, a nurse at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Turner Russell was transported to Brockton Hospital for treatment before being medflighted into Boston. Turner Russell died several days after the crash.

Investigators have determined that Vitello was travelling south in her 2004 Nissan Altima on Winter Street when her vehicle crossed the roadway and struck Turner Russell before coming to rest in the center of the roadway. Vitello’s car snapped a utility police and approximately 480 customers in Hanson and Hanover lost power for a short time before National Grid crews were able to restore power. Vitello sustained injuries as a result of the accident was taken to South Shore Hospital for treatment.

An ongoing investigation by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, Hanson Police and the State Police Collision, Analysis and Reconstruction Section, determined that Vitello was under the influence of Methadone and Xanax and operating her vehicle at the time Turner Russell was struck.

Assistant District Attorneys Russell Eonas and Canan Yesilcimen are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by Hanson Police.

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May 19, 2016