PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- R.I. Public Transit Authority CEO Scott Avedisian submitted his resignation on Thursday, bringing his six-year tenure to an abrupt end barely two weeks after a hit-and-run in a McDonald's drive-thru.

Avedisian handed in a letter of resignation to Gov. Dan McKee. News of his decision to step down began to spread shortly before a special meeting Thursday afternoon of the RIPTA board, which met behind closed doors to discuss the situation.

R.I. Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti -- who chairs the RIPTA board -- said its members need to meet with RIPTA officials before finalizing Avedisian's separation agreement and voting on it. Avedisian will technically remain CEO until that happens.

Alviti declined to share details about what Avedisian is seeking in a severance package, but said lawyers for both sides are currently negotiating the potential terms of the deal. He said the board is tentatively planning to vote on the agreement Tuesday.

In his resignation letter, Avedisian pointed to a number of improvements made at RIPTA during his tenure, including a charging station for electric buses; a high-frequency bus corridor from the train station to the hospitals; upgrades to the maintenance center; and an improvement in its pension plan funding.

"Regrettably, all of these initiatives are now being overshadowed by recent events," Avedisian wrote. "I regret that the good work of the employees is being detracted by my actions. Therefore, I respectfully submit my resignation and ask that the Board of Directors terminate my contract."

In a personal aside to McKee, Avedisian added: "Finally many thanks for the years of friendship that we have enjoyed. I wish you all the best."

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio -- who has wanted Avedisian out at RIPTA for over a year -- suggested his exit should mean a fresh start for the beleaguered agency, which has been struggling with budget shortfalls and driver shortages.

"I am hopeful that the RIPTA Board will seize the opportunity they now have to conduct a thorough search for their next CEO and bring in a true transit professional to guide the agency through the many challenges it faces," Ruggerio said in a statement.

Avedisian has pleaded not guilty to leaving the scene of an accident with damage. He is due back in court later this month.

While Avedisian has not been charged with driving under the influence, multiple witnesses told police he appeared intoxicated at the time of the collision involving two other drivers. Police said Avedisian initially signaled for the other drivers to pull into a parking lot and then took off.

Police said Avedisian was driving a RIPTA-issued car at the time, which they quickly found afterward parked in the driveway of his Warwick home. Police said the front end was damaged and the engine hood was still warm. Yet Avedisian didn't answer to officers repeatedly ringing his doorbell and knocking on his door.

Avedisian had served as the head of RIPTA since then-Gov. Gina Raimondo appointed him in 2018. He previously served for nearly two decades as the mayor of Warwick.

Former R.I. House Speaker John Harwood, who is representing Avedisian in the criminal case, called the public allegations that Avedisian was drunk at the time of the crash "a stretch." R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha's office is handling the case.

Avedisian has not answered any questions publicly since the time of the incident.

Eli Sherman contributed to this report.