Grand Jury Indicts In Resort Hit-And-Run Case

SNOW HILL — A Worcester County grand jury last week indicted a Virginia man who allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian on Coastal Highway on Memorial Day on negligent homicide by motor vehicle while impaired and numerous other charges last week.

Around 1:20 a.m. on Monday, May 28, Ocean City Police responded to the area of 54th Street and Coastal Highway for a reported hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian. The investigation revealed the pedestrian, later identified as Matthew Jude Cheswick was attempting to cross Coastal Highway from east to west when he was struck by an Isuzu Rodeo traveling northbound in the bus lane.

After striking the victim, the driver, identified as Diogo Miller Facchini, 30, of Lorton, Va., continued to travel north on Coastal Highway before turning right on 55th Street, where witnesses followed his vehicle until he was apprehended by police. The preliminary investigation revealed Facchini was traveling at a speed exceeding the posted limit when he struck the victim. Cheswick was taken to PRMC where he was later pronounced deceased.

Facchini, who was not injured in the collision, was arrested and charged initially with homicide by motor vehicle while intoxicated and numerous other traffic violations. Last week, however, a Worcester grand jury indicted formally indicted Facchini on two counts of negligent homicide, including negligent homicide by motor vehicle while under the influence, and negligent homicide by motor vehicle while impaired.

According to the grand jury indictment, on May 28, Facchini “did unlawfully, as a result of his negligent driving, operation and control of a motor vehicle while under the influence did kill Matthew Cheswick.”

The negligent homicide by motor vehicle while under the influence count is a felony which carries a maximum penalty of five years or a fine of $5,000. The negligent homicide by motor vehicle while impaired charge carries a maximum of three years.

Facchini has also been formally charged with driving under the influence, driving while impaired, and driving while impaired per se. Other charges include failure to stop a motor vehicle at the scene of an accident involving death, failure to immediately return and remain at the scene of an accident involving death, and failure to render reasonable assistance. His trial has been laid in for Sept.13.