Pickup truck seized, owner questioned after fatal hit and run in Saint-Charles

Police have seized a pickup truck and spoken to its ownerin connection with the investigation into the hit-and-run death of a young man from Elsipogtog First Nation in Saint-Charles over the weekend.

Brady Francis, 22, was waiting on the shoulder of Saint-Charles Sud Road for a drive homewhen he was struck and killed on Saturday, around 9:30 p.m.

The vehicle involved left beforemembers of the Southeast DistrictRCMPRichibuctodetachmentarrived at the scene, about 100 kilometres north of Moncton near Richibucto.

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A GMCpickup truck was seized in the Saint-Charlesarea on Sunday as part of the investigation,RCMPannounced Monday.

"We do have reason to believe that vehicle might be involved, but we have yet to confirm it is the vehicle that was involved in thecollisionon Saturdaynight," said Sgt. PatTardif.

The investigation continues. Officers are working as quickly as possible, he said, adding police understand it's a difficult time for Francis' family and his community.

Asked what led police to the truck, Tardifsaid it was the work of investigators.

Asked whether someone had come forward to police, Tardifreplied: "Nobody turned himself in, but somebody did come into [the Richibucto detachment], basically saying they might have hit something on Saturdaynight and that's what we're trying to determine right now."

A GMC logo wasfound at the scene and anRCMPcollision reconstructionist was called in.

Crowd dispersed peacefully

About 100 people from ElsipogtogFirst Nation rallied outside a location in Saint-Charles lateSunday afternoon, confirmed Tardif.

Hedeclined to confirm whether it was atthe residence of the pickup truck owner.

"Fortunately someone from the community came by and basically asked people to disperse and at that time people actually dispersed," he said. "It was just a bit of a crowd gathering there, not more than that."

A candlelight vigil for Francis was held at St. Anne's Roman Catholic Churchin Elsipogtog on Sunday night to help the community members heal.

School closed as community mourns

The schoolin Richibuctowas closed on Monday as the community continued to mourn the loss of Francis, who is being remembered as a popular, well-liked young man.

RCMPhave determined Francis was at a residence in Saint-Charles on Saturday and called for someone to pick him up.

He left the residence and was onSaint-CharlesSudRoad waiting for his ride when he was struck.

Francis was found by friends who were driving by. He diedshortly after police and paramedics arrived at the scene, Tardifsaid.

Funeral arrangements will be made in the coming days. Francis is survived by his parents, a brother and three sisters.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact theRichibuctoRCMPdetachment at506-523-4611, or Crime Stoppers at1-800-222-TIPS (8477).