Taunton man is sentenced to 2½ years for hit and run crash involving skateboarding teen

By Sarah N. Mattero, Globe Correspondent

A Taunton man is facing 2½ years in the House of Correction for a fatal hit and run accident last year, Bristol County prosecutors said.

On Aug. 4, 2011, at around 9:40 p.m., Paul Baran, 56, was driving his Chrysler Cirrus along Bay Street in Taunton when he fatally struck 17-year-old Nicholas Silva-Thomas, the Globe reported at the time. The teenager had left Watson Pond State Park and was skateboarding, on the way to grab food with his friends, when he was struck.

Baran kept driving, leaving Silva-Thomas in the road with a severe head injury. A friend skateboarding alongside Silva-Thomas called 911. He was taken to Morton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Baran was arrested two days later at his home, Taunton police said. Baran confessed during his arraignment in Taunton District Court last year, admitting he knew he had struck a person because of the damage to his windshield, the Globe reported.

He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with death resulting and held on $100,000 cash bail. He was sentenced Tuesday in Fall River Superior Court.

Prosecutors have said Baran has a criminal record spanning three pages that includes offenses such as drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident causing property damage.

Nicholas-Thomas was killed just before the start of his senior year at Taunton High School, where he was a member of the wrestling team.