Driver Charged In NH Crash That Killed 2 Cyclists

HAMPTON, NH (CBS) --- The driver accused of hitting and killing two cyclists and injuring two others has been charged.

Nineteen-year-old Darriean Hess is charged with two counts of negligent homicide and two counts of second degree assault. She's being held on $50,000 bail. Each of the felonies is punishable by a maximum sentence of 3 ½ to 7 years in prison and fines up to $4,000 for each offense.

Police say Hess crossed over into the northbound lane and struck four bicyclists riding in the Granite State Wheelman Tri-State Seacoast Century Ride on Saturday morning.

Killed was 52-year-old Elise Bouchard of Danvers, Mass., and 60-year-old Pamela Wells of South Hamilton, Mass. Two other bikers were injured.

On Monday, Hampton Police said they had pulled Hess over about seven and a half hours before the crash for speeding. Hess did not have a valid license, according to the New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles. She is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Seabrook District Court.

Uwe Uhmeyer and his wife Lori heard of about the charges as he recovered in his hospital bed. Uhmeyer was seriously injured in the crash and has been hospitalized ever since.  Lori Uhmeyer says her husband is so sad about his friends Pam and Elise.  News of an arrest brings at least some relief.

"To have them wiped out like that. To have someone who had just been corrected by police and have the bad judgement to go out and take a chance and do this, he just feels that they shouldn't get away with it," Lori said.

WBZ-TV's Lauren Leamanczyk contributed to this report.