Hit-and-Run Driver in Dedham Woman Death Pled Not Guilty

The Dedham Police Department has charged a 21-year-old Boston man in this weekend’s fatal hit-and-run killing of Jean Heppler.

College student Nicholas A. Rivas-Vasquez alleged to have been behind the wheel of a Ford Escape that struck and killed a Dedham woman crossing Washington Street Friday night. He has pled not guilty to leaving the scene of a collision causing death at his Dedham District Court arraignment Monday. He has been ordered held on bail, according to Norfolk DA Michael W. Morrissey.

Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally requested $10,000 cash bail; the court set $5,000. Rivas-Vasquez was ordered to return to Dedham District Court on Jan. 8, 2015 at 9 a.m. for pre-trial conference. He is required to stay in Massachusetts.

Dedham detectives, Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section of the Massachusetts State Police, and the Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit of the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office investigated the death.

The investigation is continuing.

Image via Shutterstock.