New Bedford Woman Identified as Victim in Westport Fatal Crash

A New Bedford woman has been identified as the person struck and killed Monday night while walking on Interstate 195 in Westport, and more details have emerged on how the crash occurred.

The victim has been identified as Sherry M. Henderson, 51, of New Bedford.

According to Massachusetts State Police, Henderson was traveling in a car down I-195 with her boyfriend shortly before 10 p.m. on April 15 when they got into an argument. The boyfriend, who was driving the car, pulled over and Henderson exited the vehicle.

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She began walking down the highway and entered the right travel lane in the area of the 15.8 mile marker, when she was struck by a 2010 Ford Fusion driven by a 21-year-old New Bedford woman.

The woman and her 20-year-old female passenger remained on the scene and called 911. The woman told state troopers that she suddenly saw the vehicle traveling in front of her in the right lane move over into the middle lane, and then she subsequently struck the victim, who was on foot.

Troopers said neither the driver nor the passenger showed any signs of impairment.

READ MORE: Woman Struck and Killed on the Highway in Westport

State troopers investigating the crash also spoke to two other motorists who witnessed the crash and said the woman suddenly ran out into the roadway, causing one car to swerve to avoid her but that the second car was not able to avoid hitting her.

State police said the boyfriend drove away from the scene before first responders arrived, but that while troopers were on the scene at the crash site, he called New Bedford Police to report Henderson had been struck on the highway. He was later interviewed by state police.

The crash remains under investigation.