A Hanson woman pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges she was behind the wheel and under the influence when she struck and killed a Hanover woman who was out for a run in 2015.
Amanda Turner Russell, 32 of Hanover, died of her injuries after she was struck by a car driven by Kathleen Vitello of Hanson on Dec. 23, 2015.
Vitello faced charges of motor vehicle homicide and motor vehicle homicide by operation under the influence and reckless operation in Plymouth District Court.
She was held on $50,000 cash bail.
On Dec. 23, the Hanson Police Department received a number of 911 calls reporting a car crash with a person ejected from the vehicle on Winter Street.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found a car had struck a pedestrian and a utility pole.
Russell was transported to Brockton Hospital for treatment. Russell died days later.
According to police, the 2004 Nissan Altima was travelling south on Winter Street when it crossed the roadway and struck Russell. The vehicle then struck a pole, snapping it in half.
Russell, a labor and delivery nurse at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical center, was training for the Boston Marathon when she was struck. Russell’s friend, Nancy Eaton, said she will run in place of Russell.
"I always hear her voice in my head … she would say ‘just go for it,’" Eaton said.
Before the crash, Russell had raised $500 for the race but that number has skyrocketed to $16,000
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