Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Crash Victim, 23, a Milford Resident

Milford Police have identified the victim of the fatal motorcycle crash Saturday as Matthew Denice, 23, of Milford. A 34-year-old man has been arrested on several charges in his death, including motor vehicle homicide and driving without a license.

UPDATED: The motorcyclist killed in a collision with a pickup truck Saturday night was identified Sunday as Matthew Denice, 23, according to Milford Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin.

Denice, of 22 Debbie Ln., Milford, had the right-of-way as he was traveling north on Congress Street, when he was struck by a pickup truck, which ran a stop sign, according to O'Loughlin.

According to police log documents: Nicolas Dutan Guaman, 34, of 10 Cherry St., Apt. 1, Milford, is charged with motor vehicle homicide, operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation, leaving the scene of personal injury and death, possession of open container of alcohol in vehicle, failure to stop for police, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop or yield, resisting arrest and wanton or reckless conduct creating risk to a child.

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A 4-year-old child was in the pickup truck, O'Loughlin said, who "popped up" from behind the seat as police were arresting Guaman.

Guaman is an Ecuadorian citizen, who is in the U.S. illegally, according to O'Loughlin. Police have contacted the Ecuadorian consulate to let them know that he is in their custody. Police have not "as of yet" contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement, O'Loughlin said.

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Police are also seeking a summons to charge Pablo Guaman, 36, of 26 Water St., Apt. 2, Milford, with allowing improper operation of a motor vehicle, according to the police log document.

was reported at 7:50 p.m. Saturday at Congress and Fayette streets in Milford, and resulted in the death of Denice, who police said was dragged for about a quarter-mile.

According to police, Denice was dragged from Congress Street up West Street to Bancroft Avenue, where the pickup truck then fled. The driver was apprehended by police on Lee Street, a few blocks away.

At least 15 people witnessed the sequence of events, according to police, and many of them ran after or attempted to stop the truck, police said.

When the driver was apprehended, O'Loughlin said, he made a statement to police that the collision occurred after the motorcyclist "came out in front of his vehicle." But a police investigation indicates the motorcycle had the right-of-way, and that Nicolas Dutan Guaman ran a stop sign, at Fayette and Congress streets, O'Loughlin said.

When officers asked why he failed to stop the truck, O'Loughlin said the driver said "he had damage to his vehicle, and he didn't know what to do."

O'Loughlin described the crash as "horrific." "I've seen horrific things. But this is right up there. Horrible. Horrible."


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