Rochester Man Arrested After Crash That Killed Barrington Couple

A Rochester man was arrested in wake of a September crash that killed a Barrington couple.

Joshua McCarthy, 33, of Rochester, was arrested Monday and charged with two counts of negligent homicide, three counts of witness tampering, and falsifying physical evidence, according to Rochester police.

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While driving his 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, McCarthy allegedly collided with another vehicle near Washington Street and Fillmore Boulevard on the evening September 19 in Rochester, per police.

Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham said the department's investigation determined that McCarthy had been operating the vehicle negligently, including allegedly running a stop sign prior to colliding with the second vehicle, Pinkham said.

The accident resulted in the deaths of 64-year-old James Hughes Sr., whom police said died on his way to the hospital, as well as his wife, 59-year-old Suzanne Hughes, who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Police added there were two passengers in McCarthy's vehicle that were transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital, but they did not have life-threatening injuries. A third passenger, as well as McCarthy, did not require transportation.

Pinkham said that, although McCarthy did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, McCarthy and his passengers may have been drinking and later falsified evidence by disposing of alcohol prior to first responders arriving to the scene of the accident.

McCarthy also allegedly spoke to the passengers involved regarding the accounts of the crash that would be presented to police, Pinkham said, which resulted in the three counts of witness tampering.

McCarthy was released on $10,000 bail, police said, and will be arraigned in Strafford County Superior Court at a date and time yet to be determined.