New Bedford man has bail revoked as probation violator after Taunton crash that killed Fall River man

A New Bedford man has been held without bail after a fatal crash in Taunton killed a Fall River man.

35-year-old Fred Moreira of New Bedford was held without bail Monday after being arraigned in Taunton District court on charges of Vehicular Homicide, Operating Under The Influence Of Liquor, and Negligent Operation Of A Motor Vehicle.

According to Massachusetts State Police, at approximately 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Troopers from State Police-Middleborough Barracks responded to a crash involving a 2014 Lexus Sedan and two motorcycles on Route 24 southbound in Taunton. The crash resulted in fatal injuries to the operator of the first motorcycle, and critical injuries to the operator of the second motorcycle.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of the Lexus, Moreira, was operating under the influence of an intoxicating liquor. Moreira was placed under arrest at the scene. The Lexus struck two motorcycles causing both operators to be thrown from their bikes, one man being sent into the trees on the side of the highway.

The first motorcycle, a 2007 Yamaha R1 was being operated by 30-year-old Tyler Moniz of Fall River when it was struck and he was ejected from the motorcycle into the woodline. The man was pronounced dead on scene.

The second motorcycle, a 2001 Yamaha V-Star 1100 was being operated by a 39-year-old Fall River man who suffered life threatening injuries and was transported to Rhode Island Hospital.

According to ABC6, officers approached Moreira and could smell a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and saw him slurring his words. Moreira then failed field sobriety tests. He reportedly admitted to consuming alcohol in Brockton and was given a blood-alcohol test that allegedly read .17%, over double the legal limit.

Prosecutors asked bail to be set at $50,000, that Moreira be alcohol-free with daily monitoring, be monitored by GPS, that he surrender his passport, as he is a Cape Verde native, and be ordered not to drive, according to ABC6. The court set Moreira’s bail at $25,000 but revoked it due to being a probation violator from previous charges.

Moreira’s next court date is scheduled for August.