Rochester man gets year in jail for hit-and-run

Richard D. Garland

DOVER, N.H. - A Rochester man will spend a year behind bars after he pleaded guilty on Thursday in Strafford County Superior Court in the hit-and-run accident that severely injured a 25-year-old Somersworth woman crossing North Main Street in a crosswalk last September.

Richard D. Garland, 20, of 10 Silver St., was sentenced to one year in the Strafford County House of Corrections with no probability of early release. He will, however, get 20 days credit for time already served. He will also have to undergo counseling and have no contact with the victim.

Garland was also sentenced to one and a half to three years in state prison for driving while under revocation in connection with the crash, which occurred around 6 p.m. on Sept. 16 near George and Ed’s convenience store.

The prison sentence was all suspended pending three years good behavior, restitution to the victim, counseling, a tour of New Hampshire state prison, 40 hours of community service and no contact with the victim. Garland also waived a sentence review.

Garland had faced up to three and a half to seven years for each Class B felony plus a 4,000 fine.

After the woman was struck she was Medflighted to Maine Medical Center. She continues a slow recovery from leg injuries she sustained in the accident, sources familiar with the injured woman said earlier this year.

Witnesses the night of the accident said they saw a black Nissan Pathfinder flee southbound after the accident.

 A police investigation resulted in Garland being identified as the driver who had fled, and he was arrested on Sept. 26.