Jail time for crash that killed Westport woman

Posted 12/15/18

A 59-year-old California woman who, earlier this year, left the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash in Dartmouth, was convicted of leaving the scene— death resulting, in Fall River Superior Court, …

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Jail time for crash that killed Westport woman

Posted

A 59-year-old California woman who, earlier this year, left the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash in Dartmouth, was convicted of leaving the scene— death resulting, in Fall River Superior Court, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III has announced.

Natalie Vieira pleaded guilty to the single count indictment on Wednesday afternoon and was sentenced by Judge Mark Hallal to two-and-a-half years in the Bristol County House of Corrections.  The defendant was ordered to serve 20 months of the jail sentence, with the balance of the jail term suspended for three years.

Although Vieira’s legal first name is Natalie, he is transgender and identifies as a male and goes by the names of Nate or Marcos.

“This was a tragedy for the victim and her family,” DA Quinn said. “All the defendant had to do was stop, but instead she took off and left victim in the street. The police had to come find the defendant. There needs to be accountability.”

On March 3, 2018 at approximately 7 p.m., 33-year-old Westport resident Stasha Faria was struck from behind by a vehicle while walking eastbound on State Road in Dartmouth. 

The DA’s office said that the victim was struck with such force that she was propelled in an easterly direction and hit a utility pole, causing severe head and bodily injuries. The motor vehicle that struck the victim did not stop at the scene.

Police recovered evidence at the scene suggesting the motor vehicle involved was a Chevrolet Uplander for model years 2005-2009.  On March 6, police learned that a Chevy Uplander was being stored at Mike's Auto Body, located at 535 Bay Street in Fall River.

The owner of Mike’s Auto Body told police he towed the motor vehicle on March 5  from a home on Highland Avenue in Westport.  

When police arrived at the home where the defendant was staying with a relative and questioned the defendant, she initially denied driving the vehicle on the date of the incident.  The defendant, after being pressed by investigators, later confessed to driving the vehicle, said she thought she hit a light pole and didn’t stop because she panicked.

Further investigation, the DA’s office said, revealed the defendant was not texting while driving and was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the hit and run. Accident reconstruction also determined that the defendant could not have avoided or prevented the collision with the victim. “The defendant was not speeding,” DA Quinn said in a press release, “the roadway was poorly lit and the accident reconstructionist opined that the victim crossed the roadway prematurely.” 

The victim, Ms. Faria, had been staying at the Moby Dick Motel, not far from where she was struck by the car. She leaves a young daughter.

Her family said that Stasha Lynn Faria was the fiancé of Justin David Griffey. Born in Newport, she was the daughter of Thomas and Rhonda (Faria) Kozak. “Stasha was very smart and artistic. She had a love for poetry. She was a very loving person and will truly be missed,” her obituary said.

The case was prosecuted by Co-First Assistant District Attorney Karen O’Sullivan.

 

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.