Suspect In Fatal Hit And Run Pleads Not guilty

An 18-year-old college student charged in connection with the hit-and-run death of a bicyclist in Middleborough last month has pleaded not guilty.

    Eric Megna posted $10,000 bail after his arraignment Thursday in Wareham District Court on a charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

    Neither he nor his mother spoke outside court.

    Prosecutors say the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth freshman struck and killed 58-year-old Michael Dutra on the evening of Oct. 11, then left the scene.

    Authorities say he fled to his family's New Hampshire vacation home and told police and his mother that his SUV was damaged when he hit a deer.

    He was arrested Wednesday.

    One of Dutra's daughters, Shannon, said the family's world was ``turned upside down,'' by the loss of their dad.

(Associated Press)