TAUNTON, Mass. -- A 33-year-old Stoughton man was arraigned Wednesday on charges he hit and left a Brockton man to die along the side of the road early Saturday morning.

Man Arraigned In Fatal Hit-And-Run

Michael Faria, of Stoughton, was charged with motor vehicle homicide, leaving the scene of an accident after causing personal injury or death and negligent operation of a motor vehicle so as to endanger.

Prosecutor Jessica Lennon said Faria was text messaging on his cell phone when he struck John McCarthy. Faria told a friend he had been looking down at his phone, text messaging, when he thought he hit someone, according to Lennon.

McCarthy was hit head-on by a vehicle as he walked on Route 138 in Easton at about 5:30 a.m. Saturday. Officials said McCarthy laid injured on the side of the road for about 30 minutes before emergency responders learned of the incident and arrived at the scene. Although he was found alive, he later died at a hospital.

"When police arrived, the victim was still alive. It is quite possible that if this defendant had contacted 911 at the time of the motor vehicle crash, the victim would be alive today," Lennon said.

After the incident, Faria fled to Maine and fixed the broken windshield and bumper on his black Infiniti SUV, prosecutors said.

An anonymous caller told police that Faria was overheard at a party telling someone on his phone that he had hit and possibly killed a man. Faria surrendered to police Tuesday after an arrest warrant was issued.

"(He) agreed to a videotape interview. At the videotaped interview, he told the police he had been drinking and at that point he wished to end the interview and obtain counsel," Lennon said.

"He is sorry for what happened to that individual. He maintains his innocence, but bottom line is that this is a tragedy from whatever perspective," defense attorney John LaChance said.

Faria has a history of driving violations, the prosecution said.

"A three-page record which included speeding, surchargable events, motor vehicle accidents," Lennon said.

Neighbors said McCarthy wore a reflective vest every day during his eight- to nine-mile walks.

"Mr. McCarthy was a phenomenal person, family man, loving husband, caring father who just retired about 18 months ago," family attorney Thomas Minichiello said.

Faria was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail.