Indictment handed down against Somersworth man in fatal Rochester Hill Rd crash

Scene of July crash that claimed the life of a young Rochester man; inset the victim Adrian Sharman, left, and Tayshawn Sheppard. (Rochester Police photo; Sharman/family; Sheppard/Rochester Police)

ROCHESTER - The Somersworth man accused of negligent homicide in a July crash that claimed the life of a 25-year-old Rochester man has been indicted by a Strafford County grand jury.
Tayshawn Sheppard, 20, is facing up to seven years in state prison in connection with the death of Adrian Sharman of Rochester.
In the indictment handed down Feb. 19 and released to the public earlier this week Sheppard is accused of "operating his vehicle in excess of the posted 35 mph speed limit while traveling northbound in the opposing southbound lane of travel on Rochester Hill Road, Rochester, negligently causing the death of Adrian D. Sharman."
Sheppard waived his December arraignment and a January probable cause hearing in Rochester District Court.
The accident occurred on July 24 around 6:45 a.m. in the area of 78 Rochester Hill Road where police say Sheppard was driving a 2023 Acura Integra when he passed over the double-yellow lines as he was heading into Rochester, colliding with three vehicles headed in the opposite direction.
Sheppard and the other two drivers involved in the crash escaped with minor or no injuries.
Sheppard is currently out on PR bail with restrictions that he not consume any alcohol, drive a motor vehicle or leave the state.
According to court records, Sheppard was involved in an earlier crash in Farmington in August 2024, when he was arrested for reckless conduct, unlawful passing on the left and speeding, all offenses that were also charged in the July crash.