Woman Arraigned in Arlington Crash That Killed 91-Year-Old Man

ARLINGTON, MA — The driver involved in a crash that resulted in the 2015 death of a 91-year-old Arlington pedestrian has been arraigned on a charge of motor vehicle homicide, the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.

Berta Rodriguez, 62, of Woburn was released on personal recognizance Tuesday following her arraignment in Cambridge District Court. Rodriguez is charged is charged with motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation and a crosswalk violation in connection with the death of William Dotson, 91, of Arlington.

Dotson was struck while walking in a crosswalk in the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Varnum Street when he was struck by a vehicle in March of 2015, police said. He was discovered by police laying in the street having suffered very serious injuries and was taken to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, says the DA's office.

The DA's office added that Rodriguez stayed on scene following the crash. It was announced in July that an unidentified 61-year-old Woburn woman would be cited in the crash. Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan said at the time that the woman's name would be released at arraignment.

Dotson was a well-known and well-liked resident of Arlington. His mail carrier told the Boston Globe that Dotson was "a fixture in the neighborhood." Residents had been eagerly awaiting further information in the case, including the East Arlington Concerned Citizens Committee, who called upon town officials to install traffic signals at the intersection in an editorial piece in the Arlington Advocate.

The next hearing in the case will be Wednesday, Feb. 15.

Image via Shutterstock