Police: Woman fled scene of crash that killed 23-year-old Quincy man

STOUGHTON -- A Brockton woman, who told people close to her she had struck a deer, had her SUV repaired under the table after she fled the scene of a fatal hit-and-run crash, prosecutors said. The crash claimed the life of Quincy resident Aquilino "Victor" Sol Lopez, who was 23 years old.

Shandi Cardoza, 31, of Brockton, pleaded not guilty Friday during her arraignment in Stoughton District Court.

Cardoza was arrested Friday morning and charged in connection with a crash early last Sunday morning, Sept. 27, in Stoughton. She was charged with leaving the scene of a collision causing death, motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, leaving the scene of a collision causing property damage, and tampering with evidence.

We can deliver news just like this directly to your inbox. You can sign up for News Alerts (so you don't miss anything important), our morning Daily Newsletter and more. It's customized to your preferences -- and it'll only take a few seconds.Lopez was driving his motorized scooter home from work at TGI Fridays in Stoughton when he was struck from behind on Route 139, also called Lindelof Avenue, near Route 24.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Pirrello asked Judge Daniel O'Malley to set bail at $25,000.

Cardoza's defense attorney, Hank Brennan, asked O'Malley to release his client on personal recognizance, but agreed to the condition that she wouldn't drive before the court case is resolved.

O'Malley set bail at $10,000 cash with the condition Cardoza doesn't drive.

Pirrello said a witness to the crash told police he saw Lopez's motorized scooter be struck from behind, which caused Lopez to be thrown from the scooter. The witness then saw sparks fly and the suspect's vehicle driving into Randolph without stopping, Pirrello said.

Investigators recovered evidence at the scene that the suspect vehicle was a late-model Nissan Rogue SUV, Pirrello said. Using license plate recorder data, investigators determined a black Nissan Rogue was driving in Stoughton shortly before the crash happened, he said.

Prosecutors say Cardoza told her mother and boyfriend that she had struck a deer, causing damage to her vehicle.

Cardoza sent her vehicle to Car-Nation in Ashland for repairs to be done without going through her auto insurance, Pirrello said.

Prosecutors say the Nissan Rogue's event data recorder determined Cardoza was driving 73 mph in a 50-mph zone at the time of the crash. Police also recovered a voice text message sent by Cardoza two hours prior to the crash in which she told her boyfriend she couldn't talk because she was driving, Pirrello said.

The assistant district attorney argued high bail was warranted because Cardoza is a flight risk and has a criminal history that includes two prior continuations without a finding for negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Pirrello said Cardoza just got off of probation four months ago for a drunken driving conviction.

"Ms. Cardoza enjoys the presumption of innocence, and today's arraignment is just the start of this process, but Stoughton Police deserve credit for a lot of hard work for developing probable cause to bring these charges," Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey said in a written statement. "State Police Crime Scene Services and the Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section have also been important in moving this investigation forward into court."

Cardoza is due back in court on Oct. 28.

Senior reporter Cody Shepard can be reached by email at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter at @cshepard_ENT.

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