Teen Driver Who Caused Fatal Crash Out on Bail

[Story posted at 12:14 p.m. Updated at 12:38 p.m.]


Darriean Hess, the 19-year-old unlicensed Seabrook driver charged with causing Saturday's fatal crash on the Neil R. Underwood Memorial Bridge, has been released on bail, according to WMUR.

Hess was held on $50,000 bail at the Rockingham County House of Corrections following her arraignment Wednesday on two Class B felony counts of negligent homicide and two Class B felony counts of second-degree assault. 

Hampton police, Rockingham County Attorney Jim Reams, and corrections officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment Friday.

In total, three individuals, including an alleged drug dealer and Hess' fiance, have been charged in connection to Saturday's fatal crash, which occurred not long after Hess was stopped for speeding, ordered not to drive, given a narcotic painkiller and got back behind the wheel.

Hess allegedly told a retired state trooper at the scene that she took her "eyes off the road for a few seconds" while traveling at a high speed across the bridge around 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Hess struck a group of cyclists riding in the opposite direction over the bridge, killing two and injuring two others.

Alleged drug dealer Cindy Sheppard, 48, of Hampton, and Scott Martin, 19, of Seabrook, are also facing charges for various actions that police say contributed to the conditions that caused the crash.

Blood tests for Hess were still pending Thursday, and police haven't yet released information about whether Hess was impaired or distracted during the fatal crash. 

The state has attempted to make a case that Hess is a flight risk and danger to the community, although bail was set during Wednesday's arraignment and Hess was ordered to remain under full house arrest if her family were able to post it.

Tony Naro, Hess' attorney, said in court that Hess isn't a flight risk because she has "no criminal record whatsoever" and because she didn't leave the area after Saturday's crash, even though she wasn't actually arrested or charged until Tuesday.

"Her family — her core — is here in Seabrook," said Naro. "There's no reason to think she's a flight risk... My client wouldn't be able to leave this state as it is [due to the cost to do so].

"She’s been absolutely grief stricken... She's not somebody that would be a flight risk. She's not somebody that would get behind the wheel of a car anytime soon — if ever. She’s absolutely traumatized. I think that answers the question of whether she's of risk to community."

Hess is scheduled for a probable cause hearing at 11 a.m. on Oct. 8 in Hampton District Court.

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