Milford Man Nicolas Guaman Charged In Motorcycle Dragging Death

MILFORD, Mass. -- A Milford man was arraigned in Milford District Court Monday, accused of hitting and killing a motorcyclist after dragging his body a half-mile down a busy street on Saturday night.

The victim was identified as Matthew J. Denice, 23, of Milford. His grieving parents showed up for the arraignment clutching photographs of their son.

Police said Nicolas Dutan Guaman, 34, was drunk behind the wheel of a pickup truck when he allegedly ran a stop sign and hit Denice at the intersection of Fayette and Congress streets, dragging the body, which was lodged under his truck wheel well, police said.

Witnesses said they screamed for Guaman to stop before Denice fell out at the intersection of West Street and Bancroft Avenue.

Guaman kept going, witnesses said. Denice was later declared dead at Milford Regional Hospital.

"(Denice) was screaming 'help' and everything, under the truck ... like, really loud. You don't ever want to hear that again, ever," said witness Luis Guzman.

"He was still alive undeeath the truck and apparently was screaming. He was later brought to Milford Regional Hospital where he died of his injuries," said Paul Jarvey, a spokesman for the district attoey's office.

Police said they eventually apprehended Guaman a short time later.

"He didn't say much. He might not have been aware that the person was trapped under his wheel well," Milford Police Sgt. John Sanchioni said.

Guaman is facing several charges, including drunken driving and vehicular homicide.

Police said they had received a call before the crash from Guaman's family waing them that Guaman had left a party drunk and had his 6-year-old son and another man in his truck.

Guaman, a native of Ecuador, is being investigated by federal immigration officials. He could be deported after the criminal proceedings.