Taunton Man Gets 12 Years for Fentanyl OUI Death

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A Taunton man has been sentenced to up to 12 years in state prison after killing a woman while driving under the influence of drugs.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced that Roland Escobar, 46, pleaded guilty on December 17 and was sentenced in Fall River Superior Court on charges of manslaughter while driving under the influence, leaving the scene with death resulting, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of leaving the scene of property damage.

Escobar was sentenced to serve nine to 12 years in state prison, followed by three years of probation with conditions.

The Fatal Crash on Main Street

The charges date back to August 3, 2021. At about 4:35 p.m., Escobar was driving his Chevrolet Traverse on Main Street in Taunton. He struck the rear of a black Kia twice, causing damage to the car’s bumper. The driver of the Kia attempted to pull over to the right side of the road, at which point Escobar passed her at a high rate of speed and partially entered the designated parking lane. Escobar continued down the road, side-swiping several parked cars.

At that time, Lisa Rocha was attempting to enter her vehicle parked outside St. Pierre’s Shoe Store at 77 Main Street. As she approached the driver’s door, Escobar struck her with his vehicle, causing fatal injuries.

Get our free mobile app

He then fled the scene at a high rate of speed and struck a Ford F-150 that was driving down Main Street. He fled that collision as well at a high rate of speed and nearly lost control of the vehicle.

Police Response and Evidence

Escobar then drove onto Summer Street and rear-ended another vehicle near the Taunton Police station, and rolled into several more vehicles. Police responded and found him unconscious with his vehicle on its side. Quinn said Escobar “appeared to display signs of an opiate-induced overdose and was administered Narcan.” He was then taken to Morton Hospital, where his blood tests came back positive for fentanyl. Police also used surveillance video to show his reckless driving and several of the collisions.

D.A.’s Statement

“This was a senseless killing of an innocent person who was just getting into her car parked on the street. This happened because the defendant was high on fentanyl and should not have been behind the wheel of a car,” D.A. Quinn said. “My heart goes out to the victim’s family. The significant sentence imposed by the court was well deserved.”