Driver Charged in Hit & Run Accident

On Saturday evening June 9, 2007 at approximately 10:39 pm Dennis Police responded to Route 28 (across from #675 Route 28) West Dennis for several 9-1-1 calls reporting a person struck by a motor vehicle.

Upon arrival officers found a male subject later identified as Michael Carapezza, 17 years of age, of Route 28 West Dennis lying on the grass adjacent to the westbound bound lane of Route 28. 

The victim was transported by Dennis Fire Rescue from the scene to Cape Cod Hospital with multiple injuries including head and leg.

As a result of the initial investigation officers learned that the victim had been walking west along Route 28 with two other individuals.  That the vehicle that struck the victim described as a newer model 4 door white or grey pick-up was operating westbound and had left the scene without stopping, west on route 28 towards Yarmouth.     

At approximately 8:55am on Sunday morning June 10^th, Patrolman Paul Boorack of the Harwich Police Department, a member of the Cape Cod Regional Law Enforcement Accident Reconstruction Unit, was returning from the accident scene and observed a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle parked in the lot of an apartment complex on Route 28 in Dennisport.  The vehicle also had recent damage consistent with the accident.

A short time later Dennis Police located the owner of the vehicle and following further investigation charged him with 3 motor vehicle charges related to the accident:

1. Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Motor Vehicle Accident;

2. Operating to Endanger and

3. Failure to Drive within Marked Lanes.  An additional charge of Operating an Un-inspected Motor Vehicle was also filed. 

The operator is identified as Paul N. Ellis, 44 years of age, of 130 Route 28 West Dennis.

Mr. Ellis will be summoned to appear in Orleans District Court at an unknown future date.

The victim remains hospitalized at Cape Cod Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, in critical condition.

See related earlier story