UPDATE: Taunton man faces judge in fatal DUI crash

TAUNTON, Mass. (WLNE) — A Taunton man faced a judge Wednesday morning stemming from a fatal crash in March on Route 44 in Taunton.

Ricky Jorge Ponte, 29, was charged with negligent motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of a crash-death resulting, operating under the influence-resulting in serious bodily injury and leaving the scene of a crash with personal injury.

No plea was entered and Ponte was ordered held on $25,000 cash bail and was bailed out.

He will next appear in court for a pre-trial conference on May 16.

The incident occurred on March 10 at approximately 9:15 p.m. when Taunton police were called to the scene of a two-car crash in the area of 380 Winthrop Street.

The first vehicle was identified as a black Mercedes and the second was a Honda CRV.

The Mercedes was found unoccupied, but a 46-year-old passenger of the car was found nearby and told police that Ponte was driving the vehicle, but left the scene after the crash.

Taunton police later received a call from the Irving Gas Station on Route 44 stating that a man had just entered the gas station bleeding.

He was later identified as the Ponte.

First responders approached the CRV, and the driver, Margaret McGowan, 67, of Fall River, was found trapped inside the vehicle.

Her passenger was a 16-year-old female relative who was found outside the vehicle in a state of shock.

McGowan was extricated from the CRV, and she and the passenger were transported to area hospitals.

McGowan succumbed to her injuries and died at the hospital on March 28.

The passenger sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.