Unlicensed Driver Stopped and Let Go. Involved in Fatal Crash Later that Day

  By Stephanie Burke

I was recently watching the news and a story came on about a horrific car crash in which two bicyclists were struck and killed.  On Saturday September 21, 60-year-old Pamela Wells of South Hamilton, and 42-year-old Elise Bouchard of Danvers were struck and killed while they participated in a 100 mile bike ride.  Two others were also injured. 

The person that hit them was identified as Darriean Hess, 20, of Seabrook, NH.  This same person was stopped at 12:46 a.m. Saturday for speeding in the same area where the fatal crash happened just eight hours later. Hess was originally stopped for going 59 mph in a 30 mph zone. It was also found that Hess had no license so a ticket was issued and Hess was ordered to wait for a friend to drive her car away, police said. 

At 8:30am Hess was driving again when her vehicle crossed the center line and struck and killed Pamela Wells and Elise Bouchard. 

I have to say I am a bit outraged by this.  I mean does it seem right to anyone else that an UNLICENSED DRIVER would be let go, and only issued a ticket, while someone who has had a license (although it may be suspended) would be arrested! I mean don’t get me wrong I don’t condone either action, if you have no license, suspended or otherwise, you should not be driving period.  It seems to me that both offenses should be punishable by arrest! It is unfortunate that in this case two persons were killed because of such an idiotic law. 

There are many reasons that a license can be suspended, but at least a suspended driver has had to pass a driving test! An unlicensed driver says to me that no one has ever tested the ability of this driver so wouldn’t it stand to reason that an unlicensed driver would and should be arrested! I hope that this tragic accident helps to open the eyes of the law makers and wheels start turning to change that law. 

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.