PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The board of the R.I. Public Transit Authority agreed Tuesday to give a $67,800 exit package to Scott Avedisian, who is resigning as CEO amid a hit-and-run scandal.

RIPTA's board held a special meeting to consider the exit settlement and officially accept Avedisian's resignation, which he submitted to Gov. Dan McKee last week.

The package includes 13 weeks of pay totaling $45,400, plus unused vacation time worth $22,400. He is not eligible to collect a RIPTA pension, an agency spokesperson said.

"Given all the facts surrounding this and the service he provided and his contract -- that is a fair settlement," said RIPTA Chairman Peter Alviti, who also serves as director of the R.I. Department of Transportation.

Avedisian's exit follows a collision last month in a McDonald's parking lot where police said Avedisian smashed his RIPTA-issued SUV into another car before taking off.

Avedisian has pleaded not guilty to leaving the scene of an accident with damage. He's also been cited for failing to report an accident to police.

Two victims have since said the CEO appeared intoxicated at the time of the crash, and Avedisian didn't answer his door when police responded to his home immediately afterward. The RIPTA SUV was parked in his driveway and police said the engine was still warm.

Avedisian has not been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, and his lawyer has called the accusations of intoxication "a stretch."

Avedisian became CEO in 2018 on the recommendation of then-Gov. Gina Raimondo, after serving nearly two decades as mayor of Warwick.

"It is sad and troubling Scott's employment ends this way," RIPTA board member Normand Benoit said after the unanimous vote to approve Avedisian's resignation and separation agreement.

"Many would have invoked their contract right and fought this and tried to drag things out," he added. "Scott took the high road -- to his credit."

The sentiment was echoed by board member Robert Kells, who noted the public transit agency has gone through a tumultuous period because of COVID and a financial crisis caused in part by the drying up of federal pandemic relief funds.

"I think he did a good job under the circumstances," Kells said.

After accepting Avedisian's resignation, the board voted to fill his job temporarily with the agency's chief financial officer, Christopher Durand. According to his LinkedIn page, Durand has worked for RIPTA for nearly six years, including about two and half years as its CFO.

"The CFO of the organization really is key in that person has direct knowledge of just about all aspects of the organization," Alviti said. "Chris Durand has demonstrated during the last couple years a very high proficiency at operating the finances."

Durand's appointment also came at the urging of advocates, who offered support for the CFO during a public comment section of the meeting.

Randall Rose, a member of the Kennedy Plaza Resilience Coalition, called on the board to make sure RIPTA's next permanent CEO is "somebody with serious experience in the transit field -- not somebody from outside transit."

Alviti said there is no timeline for when the board might hire a permanent replacement for Avedisian.