$10k Bail in Hit-and-Run that Injured Teen

BOSTON, July 10, 2014—A driver was arraigned today for fleeing the scene of a collision with a scooter in Dorchester then crashing into a building in Jamaica Plain, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

MANUEL AFONSECA (D.O.B. 9/30/81) was arraigned today in Dorchester Municipal Court, where Assistant District Attorney Brian Brodigan recommended that he be held on $15,000 cash bail and Judge Robert Tochka imposed $10,000. He is charged with leaving the scene of a collision causing personal injury, leaving the scene of a collision causing property damage, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license as a subsequent offense, and civil infractions.

Just before 8:00 last night, prosecutors said, Boston Police were flagged down the area of Kingsdale and Standish streets in Dorchester by a witness who said a red Infinity had struck a person and fled in the direction of Blue Hill Avenue.

Officers spotted the vehicle, which was operating at a high rate of speed and weaving in and out of marked lanes, on Blue Hill Avenue. Despite the cruisers active lights and sirens, the vehicle did not slow or stop and made multiple turns before losing the officers.

Additional officers soon reported spotting the suspect vehicle driving in the wrong direction on Seaver Street, then crashing on Glenside Avenue. Afonseca allegedly bailed from the vehicle and led responding officers on a foot chase before being taken into custody.

The 15-year-old victim, meanwhile, was transported to Boston Medical Center with injuries that, at this stage, do not appear life-threatening. The Honda scooter he was writing was destroyed by the impact, prosecutors said.

Afonseca was previously convicted of operating without a license in 2010.  He has served 14 months for breaking and entering in 2001, a year for possessing a firearm in 2002, two years for reckless operation in 2004, 18 months for drug distribution in 20006, and two years for drug distribution in 2010. He is represented by attorney Kate McIntyre Sullivan.

 

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.