DA identifies one of two victims killed in pair of crashes on I-95 in Attleboro

Mass. State Police responded to a pair of fatal incidents on I-95, one on the northbound side and one on the southbound side, on Monday night.

Police have not determined if there is any connection between the incidents.

Officials responded to the southbound side of the highway near Exit 1 at 9:45 p.m. Monday after a body was discovered in the roadway. Police determined, based on a preliminary investigation, that the male victim was likely a pedestrian who was killed in a hit-and-run crash.

No vehicle was located at that scene, but police believe a woman driving a white Cadillac Escalade struck the victim as he tried to cross the highway.

That victim has been identified as 50-year-old John Gauthier, who was homeless, according to a release from the Bristol County District Attorney.

That release described the driver of the Escalade as a 5-foot-4, 160-pound woman. Police believe she stopped on the left side of the highway after striking the man but drove off after briefly exiting her car.

Related: DA: Man arrested after alleged murder, rape in Lowell

Around the same time, police say a vehicle traveling on the northbound side of the highway veered off the road near Exit 5 and rolled over into the woods. One person in that vehicle died, according to police.

Both incidents caused closures on the highway, with the northbound side having the right lane shut down near Exit 5, while the southbound side was shut down altogether at Exit 1.

This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available. 

Cox Media Group