Massachusetts State Police arrest man in fatal hit-and-run on Route 24 that claimed the life of Erpharo Gilbert

Following an investigation by State Police, the suspect in Monday night’s fatal hit-and-run crash on Route 24 in West Bridgewater has been identified and arrested.

According to Dave Procopio of Massachusetts State Police, 33-year-old Juan Leonardo Parra Altamirano of Brockton surrendered at the State Police-Middleborough Barracks this morning.

Parra Altamirano was booked on the charges of Leaving the scene of a crash that caused personal injury resulting in death, Leaving the scene of a crash that caused personal injury, and Leaving the scene of a crash that caused property damage.

Parra Altamirano will be arraigned today at the Brockton District Court. His case is being prosecuted by the office of Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 10:30 p.m., a 2008 Toyota Scion TC and a 2015 Honda Accord were northbound on Route 24 in West Bridgewater. As the Toyota changed lanes it made contact with the Honda; the impact projected the latter vehicle to the median where came into contact with a concrete barrier. The Toyota fled the scene.

As the Honda was stationary in the left travel lane, a 2022 Ford Maverick pickup struck the rear of the Honda, causing it to become fully engulfed in flames. The West Bridgewater Fire Department knocked down the car fire.

The operator of the Honda, 46-year-old Erpharo Gilbert of Raynham, was determined to be deceased on scene.

The operator of the Ford, a 23-year-old Brockton man, was not injured.

The crash investigation was led by the State Police Detective Unit for Plymouth County with assistance from State Police Troop D, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section