54-year-old Middleboro woman killed in crash; driver charged after fleeing from State Police

A 34-year-old Medford man is being criminally charged tonight in connection with Monday afternoon’s fatal crash on Kingman Road in Taunton which claimed the life of a 54-year-old Middleboro woman.

According to Gregg Miliote of the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, Hector Fernando Bannister-Sanchez is being charged with Manslaughter, Reckless Motor Vehicle Homicide and Negligent Motor Vehicle Homicide.

Shortly after 2:00 p.m., members of a Massachusetts State Police narcotics task force attempted to stop a motor vehicle in Middleboro being operated by Bannister-Sanchez, who was the target of an ongoing investigation. Bannister-Sanchez, who was driving a 2017 Toyota Highlander sport utility vehicle, fled the attempted stop and drove away at a high rate of speed.

Miliote stated that the task force members did not pursue Bannister-Sanchez.

Several minutes later, Bannister-Sanchez’s vehicle crashed into a Ford Fusion being operated by Lori Ann Medeiros on Kingman Road in Taunton. Medeiros died as a result of the crash.

Medeiros is being remembered as someone who was always happy and positive and who made a difference in the community and was there for people when they needed it.

Bannister-Sanchez was transported to Morton Hospital in Taunton for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and was released from the hospital and into police custody Monday night.

The incident remains under investigation by the State Police Detective Unit assigned to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn’s office, prosecutors, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and Taunton Police.