2 Charged In August Hit-and-Run of Motorcyclist

NH State Police arrested Benjamin Tucker, 23, and Michael Fawcett, 47, both of Nashua on Sept. 20 in connection with a hit-and-run accident on Aug. 22 that left a motorcyclist with serious injuries.

One of the two, Fawcett, is the same man arrested for robbing the Lake Street Market a short time later on the same day, state police confirmed.

Police say Tucker and Fawcett were in a black SUV that struck Theodore Takacs, 79, of Nashua, at about 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 22. Takacs was operating his motorcycle on the Everett Turnpike at the exit 5 northbound on-ramp when the SUV hit him and fled the scene without stopping. Takacs was thrown from the motorcycle, landing on the highway and suffering serious injuries.

The ensuing exhaustive investigation resulted in the identity of the occupants of the black SUV and in the siezure of their vehicle, according to Trooper L. Paul Lundt, who said it was a cooperative effort among several law enforcement agencies, including Nashua Police, and members of the public, who provided key information.

"It becomes personal at some point, and it is imperative to me – it's my duty, my obsession, really, to do all I can do to get all the facts of the case, with all the determination I can muster. Otherwise, what good am I to out there," Lundt said. 

"It's all about dogged pursuit of the facts and doing routine follow-up. That, plus a call that came in from someone who had read about the accident and provided critical information. After that, things fell into place," Lundt said.

Tucker was charged with: felonious reckless conduct; felonious conduct after an accident; and operating without a valid license. Fawcett was charged with: falsifying physical evidence (felony); and allowing improper person to operate. The charges are pending before the Hillsborough County Superior Court South.

Lundt confirmed that Fawcett is the same man who was charged Aug. 22 by Nashua Police with an alleged armed robbery at the Lake Street Market, which happened within about 20 minutes of the Everett Turnpike crash.

Lundt said he could not elaborate on the sequence of events.

"That's all part of the investigation, and I can't say any more than to confirm that he is the same person in the Nashua armed robbery," Lundt said.