Man Charged in Fatal Seekonk Hit and Run Held on $100K Bail

TAUNTON — The man charged in connection to the fatal hit-and-run crash in Seekonk last week has been ordered held on $100,000 cash bail.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office says 27-year-old Jeremy Schmidt, of East Providence, is charged in connection with the hit-and-run incident that killed a woman walking with her child on Thursday.

Schmidt was arraigned Monday in Taunton District Court on charges of Negligent Motor Vehicle Homicide while Operating Under the Influence, Leaving the Scene-Death Resulting, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Marked Lanes Violations.  He is due back in court on October 31.

The 37-year-old Seekonk woman killed in the incident, identified as Antonieta Vargas, was struck by the vehicle while walking along Newman Avenue in Seekonk with her 11-year-old son.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III says the suspect did not stop his vehicle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, after the crash, and fled across the state line after striking Vargas.

Seekonk Police responded to the area of 893 Newman Avenue Thursday night around 6:46 p.m. for reports of the incident. When first responders arrived, they found a male passerby rendering aid to Vargas.

The case is being investigated by Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to this office, prosecutor, Seekonk Police and Rhode Island State Police.