Eastie Man Back in Court in Connection with Fatal Car Crash

The 22-year-old East Boston man arrested last month in connection with the fatal car crash on Bennington Street that killed a Rhode Island college student and seriously injured her friend was back in court last Friday.

Dylan Ethridge returned to East Boston District Court for the first time since the May 5 accident that killed Amber Pelletier, of Rhode Island and seriously injured her friend from Saint Leo University, Ava Salvi, of East Boston. Sources who knew the group of friends said Pelletier was allegedly in Eastie visiting Salvi for the weekend.

Ethridge, who was surrounded by friends and family last Friday barely moved or spoke before Judge John McDonald called his case.

Friday’s court appearance by Ethridge was largely procedural as the case is being moved to Suffolk Superior Court.

Suffolk County D.A. Rachel Rollin’s office confirmed that Ethridge would be indicted on vehicle homicide charges on Wednesday, June 19, in Suffolk Superior.

Prosecutors allege that Ethridge was operating a gray Mazda on Bennington Street at a high rate of speed immediately prior to the crash at approximately 1:10 a.m. on Sunday, May 5.  The vehicle struck several parked vehicles and a cement planter on the roadway center median before coming to a rest on its roof. 

One passenger, later identified as Pelletier, suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.  According to reports Salvi was seriously injured but survived.

According to the District Attorney’s Office Ethridge allegedly left the scene on foot and was nowhere to be found when police arrived. His attorney Peter Marano said his client went to go seek help.

Ethridge allegedly went to a friend’s house after the crash and later checked himself into Mass General Hospital were police finally caught up with him.

Pelletier was a 2016 graduate of La Salle Academy and had just completed her junior year at St. Leo University in Florida where she majored in psychology and minored in education. Her future dream was to complete graduate school and counsel children in hospital settings. As a young girl and throughout college, she participated regionally and nationally in cheerleading and dance. She participated in the Patriots Junior Cheerleading program and for many years was with the Dance Theater of Rhode Island in Cumberland. She was a National Grand Champion in dance competition. She worked hard throughout college and when at home on school breaks, was adored by children at her job with Dr. Daycare.

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