Dealer Gave Teen Driver Fentanyl Before Crash That Killed Local Cyclists

Police say an alleged Hampton Beach heroin dealer gave Darriean Hess a narcotic painkiller not long before Hess caused Saturday's fatal crash, which killed Elise Bouchard of Danvers and Pamela Wells of Hamilton and injured two other cyclists.

The affidavit for Cindy Sheppard, 48, of Hampton, N.H., states she gave Hess, 19, of Seabrook, N.H., the drug fentanyl early Saturday morning. Fentanyl is an opioid.

Sheppard was arrested Wednesday on multiple charges in connection to Saturday's fatal crash on the Neil R. Underwood Memorial Bridge.

Sheppard was due for video arraignment in Hampton District Court at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, at which point she was also expected to answer to one violation-level charge of allowing an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.

Hampton Police Detective Chris Gilroy states in a report filed with Hampton District Court that after Hess was stopped for speeding early Saturday morning, Sheppard took possession of her vehicle, a 2002 Honda Civic registered to an acquaintance of Hess.

Gilroy states that "Sheppard was informed" that Hess "could not drive due to a lack of a license," although she returned the keys and vehicle to Hess later that morning "with the knowledge that [Hess] would drive the vehicle." Hess caused the collision on the bridge around 8:30 a.m. after spending the night with Sheppard at her apartment, which Gilroy said is close to where Hess was originally stopped for speeding.

Sheppard is also scheduled for arraignment on seven drug possession indictments in Rockingham Superior Court at 1 p.m. Thursday, according to court staff. She faces two counts of possession of cocaine and one count each of possession of heroin, oxycodone, diazepam, methylone and marijuana, according to court staff, who said the counts are in connection to Sheppard's June drug arrest.

RELATED:

• Services Thursday and Friday for Crash Victim Elise Bouchard
• Alleged Heroin Dealer Also Charged in Fatal N.H. Crash
• Injured Cyclist: 'All of Us Were Doing What We Loved'
• Driver in Fatal N.H. Crash Held on $50K Bail
• 'Devastated' Hess Family 'Should Suffer,' Says Victim's Family
• Fatal Crash Driver: I Took My 'Eyes Off the Road for a Few Seconds
• Danvers Survivor Describes NH Bike Crash
• Small Bridge Memorial Honors Crash Victims Bouchard and Wells
• Teen Driver Charged With Causing Fatal Crash
• Still No Charges for License-less Driver Who Caused Fatal Crash
• Video Shows Stretch of Road Where Danvers Cyclist Was Mortally Wounded
• Driver That Struck, Killed Danvers Cyclist Did Not Have a License
• Hamilton and Danvers Women Killed in N.H. Cycling Accident