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TAUNTON - A Taunton man faces arraignment today on charges that include motor vehicle homicide after he allegedly struck and killed a 13-year-old middle school pupil who was riding a bicycle early yesterday, police and prosecutors said.
Craig P. Bigos, 31, of Taunton turned himself in to police yesterday afternoon. In addition to motor vehicle homicide, he was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and driving without a license, among other offenses.
Police did not identify the victim yesterday, but Taunton's schools superintendent, Arthur Stellar, said in a telephone interview that he was a pupil at Friedman Middle School who has at least one school-age sibling, a brother who attends Taunton High School. Several televisions stations identified the victim as Earman Machado.
"We've got extra counselors and guidance counselors and psychologists that are available when we get back next week," Stellar said.
The victim had been staying with a friend who lives in the area when the two teens left the house to meet with friends, said Sergeant Paul Roderick, a Taunton police spokesman. The victim was riding a bike and his friend was walking alongside when the vehicle struck the bicycle about 12:28 a.m. on Poole Street. Police said the friend, also 13, attempted to call 911, but was unable to get through on his cellphone. A passerby contacted authorities.
The child was pronounced dead at Morton Hospital and Medical Center in Taunton less than an hour after he was struck.
Police found the 1995 Ford Explorer they believe was involved parked at Bigos's home on William Street, less than a mile from the location where the teen was struck. Police wouldn't say how they identified the vehicle. The vehicle was registered to a relative of Bigos who lives in New Bedford.
Bigos, who was not at home when investigators arrived late yesterday morning, later called police, who urged him to surrender.
"He was very remorseful," Roderick said. He declined to say whether Bigos indicated he was aware that a child had been struck.
"It's a tragedy," Roderick said. "It's a tragedy for the family; it's a tragedy for his friend; it's a tragedy for the city of Taunton. I'm glad it ended up the way it did, having the suspect and the vehicle and wrapping it up as quickly as we did."
It is the second fatal hit-and-run of a child in Taunton in two years. Odesys Rivera ,14, was walking with friends about 10:15 p.m. on June 2, 2006, near a Lawton Avenue skating rink when he was struck and killed. Police have not made an arrest in the case.
A resident who lives near yesterday's scene said Poole Street is well traveled but not particularly dangerous.
"Things like that never really happen here," said Ellen Solup, who lives on the corner of Poole Street and Marsh Drive. "It's a safe neighborhood."
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
