BOSTON, April 4, 2014—The driver of a garbage truck was charged today with leaving the scene of a collision that killed a cyclist in Charlestown, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

RICKY PREZIOSO (D.O.B. 4/13/72) of Swampscott was arrested last night by Boston Police detectives and formally charged this morning with one count of leaving the scene of an accident causing death. Assistant District Attorney Ian Leson of the DA’s staff in Charlestown Municipal Court recommended that Prezioso be held on $15,000 cash bail and requested orders that he wear a GPS device if he posts that amount and that Prezioso’s bail on an open Woburn case charging assault and battery be revoked.

Judge Lawrence McCormick imposed $5,000 cash bail and declined the requested orders.

Boston Police responded to a call for a pedestrian struck at about 1:40 yesterday afternoon near the intersection of Cambridge and Spice streets. On arrival, they learned that the victim had in fact been a bicyclist and the suspect vehicle was a white garbage truck.

As of this morning, efforts to identify the adult male cyclist were still ongoing.

Witness reports suggest the truck and cycle came into contact as the truck turned right from Cambridge Street onto Spice Street. Witnesses reported that the truck did not stop and the driver did not make himself known.

Boston Police, with the assistance of police in neighboring cities and towns, undertook a search for trucks consistent with the suspect vehicle’s description. That search led them to a parking lot in Revere owned by a waste removal company, where they found the truck believed to have been involved in the collision.

In an interview with the business’ management, Boston Police learned that the driver of that truck – later identified as Prezioso – had been in the area of Cambridge and Spice streets that afternoon as part of his route. A GPS report from the truck showed that it had been in the area of the collision at about the time of the collision. Boston Police seized the truck and towed it to an MBTA facility pending a forensic examination.

Boston Police obtained the truck driver’s name and traveled to his Swampscott home. In a post-Miranda statement, he allegedly told them that he made a right off of Cambridge onto Spice and thought he hit a pothole. He allegedly stated that he exited the truck on Spice Street, inspected the truck, and proceeded to the next stop on his route. As he left that stop, he allegedly told investigators, he intended to turn right onto Spice Street to get back on Cambridge Street but was told by officers at the scene to turn left on Spice Street.

Prezioso was represented by attorney William Cintolo. He will return to court on May 19.

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