Dartmouth teen charged in New Year's Day alleged hit-and-run that killed pedestrian in New Bedford

A 16-year-old from Dartmouth has been charged with Negligent Motor Vehicle Homicide and Leaving the Scene in an early New Year's Day car crash that killed Nicolasa Ventura Colaj, 33, of New Bedford.

Colaj was exiting a church gathering with her family at 1805 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford just after midnight on Thursday, Jan. 1 when the crash occurred, according to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office. She had been crossing a roadway when she was struck by an SUV, which then fled the area.

Colaj was reportedly transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after.

The unnamed teen is expected to be arraigned in the New Bedford Juvenile Court on Monday, Jan. 5.