HEAT ALERT

Heat advisory in effect for parts of Connecticut today through Tuesday.

Nanny charged in Fairfield fatal pedestrian crash makes first court appearance

Meghan Rice, 51, of Newtown, is charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, failure to drive right and traveling unreasonably fast.

Jul 31, 2023, 10:34 AM

Updated 342 days ago

Share:

A nanny charged in connection with a pedestrian crash in Fairfield that killed a member of the William Raveis Real Estate family last month was arraigned in Bridgeport Superior Court Monday.
Meghan Rice, 51, of Newtown, is charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, failure to drive right and traveling unreasonably fast.
Police said Rice fatally hit Meghan Raveis, 45, of Fairfield, with her Jeep Wagoneer just before 3 p.m. on June 23, as Raveis was walking along the 500 block of Redding Road less than a quarter-of-a-mile from her home.
Police said Rice stayed on the scene following the crash and called 911. According to Rice's arrest warrant, Rice told police she didn't remember seeing Raveis before hitting her. Rice also told police she's a nanny. The arrest warrant said Rice was driving toward Westport with three children passengers, who were seated in the second and third rows of Rice's Jeep. Rice and the children were not injured.
Police said crash reconstructionists determined Rice was traveling around 31 mph in a 25 mph zone when she crossed over the double-yellow line, hit a green mailbox, then hit Raveis from behind as Raveis was walking against traffic on the side of the road. Police said there's no sidewalks there. The arrest warrant said the left side of the Jeep's hood was dented, the left headlight was cracked and the driver side view mirror was displaced. The arrest warrant said the displaced side view mirror had green paint smear from the struck mailbox.
The arrest warrant said Rice didn't appear to suffer any medical emergencies prior to the crash and police saw no signs of impairment at the scene. The arrest warrant also said investigators concluded Rice was not texting at the time of the crash after seizing her cellphone. A mechanical inspection found the Jeep was in new condition and had no abnormalities, according to the arrest warrant.
Police said it remains undetermined what caused Rice to cross over the double-yellow line.
Raveis was the managing director of the William Raveis Charitable Fund. A memorial campaign has been set up in her honor. Raveis leaves behind her husband, Ryan, the co-president of William Raveis, and their three children.
Rice has been out on bond since her arrest two weeks ago.
The judge continued the case to September 8. Rice's attorney declined to comment following the arraignment. 


More from News 12