Lowell man now charged with murder in hit-and-run crash

A Lowell man has now been indicted on a murder charge after a hit-and-run crash in August in the city left a 38-year-old man dead.

Tito Nuth, 36, was arraigned Tuesday in Middlesex Superior Court in Lowell on charges of murder and leaving the scene of personal injury or death, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office.

On Aug. 23, Lowell police received a report of a hit-and-run on Hillside Street around 2:45 p.m.

The victim — Eugene Phonchanh of Lowell — was treated by EMS at the scene before being transported to Lahey Hospital in Burlington where he died the following morning, officials said.

Surveillance footage showed a Honda Pilot, which did not slow down or brake, strike Phonchanh, who was straddling an electric bicycle at the side of the roadway. Officials then determined the Pilot was registered to Nuth.

On Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty to both charges and is being held without bail, according to court documents.

Nuth was arrested in Jacksonville, Florida, on Oct. 1. He was arraigned in Lowell District Court later that month on charges of armed assault with intent to murder, leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury or death, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury. 

Nuth is set to reappear in Middlesex Superior Court on Jan. 7 for a scheduling conference and again on Feb. 6 for a pre-trial hearing, according to the documents.

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