Man pleads guilty to killing Concord resident with his car while driving distracted, avoids jail time

A Billerica man was ordered to give up his driver’s license for 15 years and perform 100 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to killing a Concord woman with his car in 2024. 

Joshua Quimby, 35, avoided jail time Thursday after pleading guilty to a charge of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation in the collision that killed 53-year-old pedestrian Tamar Vishlitzky. According to court records, his two-year sentence is suspended for three years, meaning he will serve no time unless he violates his probation.

Judge Sharon Lalli also suspended Quimby’s license and ordered 100 hours of community service at a facility or organization that serves patients with traumatic brain injuries. 

The charge stems from a July 20, 2024, crash on Concord Road in Bedford. Authorities previously said Vishlitzky was walking her bicycle across the road in a crosswalk around 3:36 p.m. when Quimby — who was driving a Volkswagen GTI — struck and killed her. Bedford police said a preliminary investigation indicated Quimby had a suspended license at the time and was using his cellphone while driving. 

Assistant District Attorney Jenna Scott alleged Quimby was speeding, sending messages, and using various apps immediately before the crash, according to local news outlet The Concord Bridge. 

Vishlitzky’s sister, Ruthie, told reporters the family was “devastated” by Quimby’s suspended sentence, even though they were “bracing for disappointment” because the maximum penalty was two-and-a-half years in jail, the Bridge reported.

In a brief phone interview, defense attorney Michael Contant said Quimby and his family “feel horrible” for Vishlitzky’s loved ones and noted that Quimby remained at the scene following the collision, took full responsibility, and attempted to render aid.

“It was a true accident, obviously very tragic for the family,” Contant said. 

However, given Quimby’s lack of prior criminal record, he believes the sentence strikes a fair balance between punishment and rehabilitation.

“It was just a true, tragic accident,” he reiterated. 

Vishlitzky is survived by her mother, sister, and two daughters, according to her obituary. She immigrated to the United States at the age of 14 and found a love of painting while studying at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, later becoming a psychotherapist, her obituary states.  

“Helping people was incredibly important to Tamar. Her insight helped not only her patients but her friends, family and colleagues too,” according to the obituary. “She was wise beyond her years and always had the most insightful advice. She saw the beauty in the world and made it a more beautiful place, even while having awareness and empathy about the hardships within it.”

Vishlitzky and her daughters lived for several years in Brookline, and she had recently moved to Concord around the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, local news outlet Brookline.News reported. 

“Her sudden and violent demise came as she was beginning a new and exciting chapter — one she had finally entered into with more ease, confidence, wisdom and connection — has left her family and community profoundly devastated, heartbroken, and aching with the chasm of her loss,” Vishlitzky’s obituary states. “She is so missed.”

Abby Patkin

Staff Writer

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.

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