Dec 28, 2007 1:14 pm US/Eastern
Text Messaging Blamed In Deadly Hit And Run
TAUNTON (WBZ) ―
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Police spent Thursday morning searching for the Explorer, which has a damaged right front end.
WBZ
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Police marked the scene on Poole St. with orange spray paint Thursday.
WBZ
Prosecutors say the driver charged in the hit-and-run death of a 13-year-old boy in Taunton was text messaging at the time of the incident.
Earman Machado was riding a bike on the side of Poole Street just after midnight Thursday when he was struck and killed by a 1995 Ford Explorer. Police say the driver, Craig Bigos, lost control of his SUV while text messaging on his cell phone and did not stop.
Bigos, 31, of New Bedford, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday in Taunton District Court.
He was ordered held on $5,000 bail.
A friend who was with the boy at the time of the accident helped police identify the SUV.
Bigos turned himself in about 14 hours later, after police broadcast a description of the Explorer, which had significant damage to the right front end.
A prosecutor said Friday that Bigos told police he thought he hit a mailbox, and didn't realize he hit Machado until the next day.
He's charged with motor vehicle homicide, leaving the scene of an accident, operating to endanger and driving without a license.
Defense attorney Daniel Igo said his client has a clean criminal record.
Taunton Schools Superintendent Arthur Stellar said Machado attended Friedman Middle School, where he was a good student and very popular.
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