A 18-year-old Dorchester teenager was struck and killed while riding his bicycle along Talbot Avenue last Tuesday. The unlicensed driver whom authorities say caused the fatal collision— and then fled the scene on foot— was ordered held on high bail after his arraignment in Dorchester Court.
The victim was identified as Fritz Philogene, a Haitian-born student at West Roxbury Academy who was riding his bike near the intersection with Norwell Street just after 10 p.m. when the incident took place.
Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said that the responsible driver was Gregory McCoy, 27. McCoy was reportedly driving a friend’s white Cadillac on Norwell Street when he struck a silver BMW driven by a 33-year-old Dorchester man. Both cars then careened through the Talbot Street intersection, where Philogene was struck and suffered fatal injuries.
Philogene turned 18 the day before the crash, according to friends and former teachers, who have launched a GoFund page to help pay for his funeral expenses.
“Fritz was part of our TechBoston Academy family at TBA lower and left us after the 8th grade to go to CASH. He was most recently a student at West Roxbury Academy,” reads a statement on the fundraising page that features a photo of Philogene assisting with the construction of a library at the school. “However, you could often spot him on Robert’s Field playing soccer, lending a helping hand to TBA staff or checking in with former classmates at the end of school day.”
Philogene’s father and extended family still live in Haiti and the donations are sought to help pay for the expenses of sending his remains back there for burial. As of Monday, more than $3,500 in donations have been collected.
Judge Thomas Kaplanes set McCoy’s bail at $250,000. He was charged with motor vehicle homicide, leaving the scene of a collision causing death, leaving the scene of a collision causing serious bodily injury, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. The driver of the BMW suffered injuries that were serious but not life-threatening, according to Conley’s office The owner and passenger of the vehicle that McCoy was driving suffered an injury to his leg and was transported to Boston Medical Center.
McCoy allegedly fled on foot, leaving a blood trail from the scene to his Wentworth Street residence, where has was arrested the next morning. McCoy is due back in court on June 19.