Quincy Man Charged In Fatal Crash Hides From Victim's Family

QUINCY, MA — A Quincy man charged in a car crash that resulted in the death of his 18-year-old friend couldn't even enter the courtroom for his arraignment Wednesday afternoon in Quincy District Court.

Christopher Murch, 22, hid behind a wall, staying out of sight of friends and family of Allan Dunne, who was killed in the Aug. 7 crash. He was ordered held on $100,000 bail and if he is able to post bail, he must have no contact with the victims and the victim's family, refrain from consuming alcohol and drugs, submit to random drug testing, refrain from driving, and wear a GPS monitor.

Outside the courthouse, friends of Dunne expressed disgust at Murch's decision to hide, knowing that Dunne's family was in the courtroom.

"I’m angry. I’ve known (Murch) since I was six, I don’t understand how he couldn’t even come out to look at her," Nina Robinson, a friend of Dunne said.

Another friend, Chad Farnsworth, said he believed that Murch was scared of everything that has happened.

"I can’t defend him for doing that. He was scared about the situation that happened but I do not agree with the call," he said.

On Aug. 7 just after midnight, police responded to a report of a single-car crash on Palmer Street. Witnesses told police that a utility truck struck a pair of utility poles and vehicles before flipping over and coming to a rest. One witness estimated that the truck was going 70 mph on a road with a 25 mph speed limit.

At the scene, police found two people in the vehicle. Dunne was pronounced dead while another passenger was transported to Boston Medical Center with serious head and back injuries, according to a police report read in court.

The surviving passenger told police that Murch was the driver and he fled the scene. Murch was later located in a Jeep, passed out and covered in glass, police said. He was arrested on an active warrant and later released.

On Aug. 14, Quincy police announced that Murch was wanted on charges of motor vehicle homicide, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a crash involving personal injury and leaving the scene of a crash involving injury and death. He turned himself into police late Tuesday night.

Inside the truck, police allegedly found marijuana, beer cans, and a shoe that belonged to Murch.

Murch's defense attorney, Steve Cowell, said his client had local ties to the area and is a Quincy High School graduate living with his father. He requested $7,500 bail with the same conditions.

Murch is due back in court Sept. 13 for a probable cause hearing.

Image via Quincy Police Department