Merrimack Teacher, Coach, A Suspect In A Fatal Hit-And-Run, Found Dead

MANCHESTER, NH — Police in Manchester have identified both the victim of a fatal hit-and-run crash from earlier this month as well as the suspected driver in the case.

Around 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 15, officers were sent to Union and Merrimack streets in Manchester for a report of a person down on the road. The victim, Michael Vigneault, 35, a resident of the Queen City, was suffering what appeared to be a severe head injury. He was taken to the hospital by American Medical Response EMTs, where he later died from his injuries.

Police investigated the incident and found Vigneault was struck while attempting to cross Union Street. A motor vehicle involved in the collision, a dark-colored four-door hatchback, fled the scene.

Vigneault’s death was reported by Heather Hamel, the public information officer for the Manchester Police Department, on Friday.

Hamel said, during the investigation, officers identified Shawn Croteau, 59, of Newbury as a suspect in the hit-and-run crash.

Croteau, the Newbury Police Department said Friday, was found dead at his home on Wednesday.

Croteau, according to online death notices posted Friday, was identified as an educator for the Merrimack school district and a coach.

His profile on the SAU 26 website said he was employed for the district for more than two decades, first as a physical education and health teacher at Merrimack High School and then at the Mastricola Elementary School, beginning in 2013. Croteau had been a coach for around three decades — including track and field and basketball.

Merrimack school officials did not return an email seeking comment about his employment status at the time of his death. The school district also made no public notifications about his death on social media sites.

On Thursday, an email was sent to Mastricola Elementary School families notifying them of Croteau's death.

"He was a warm and kind presence in the building, and he will be missed," the notice said.

The district's crisis response team was to be available for students on Friday, but school was canceled due to the snowstorm.

Hamel said the investigation into the hit-and-run was still ongoing. Anyone with information was asked to contact the Manchester Police Department Traffic Unit at 603-668-8711.

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