Grand jury ups charges against man accused of running down scooter driver in Roxbury

A Roslindale man arrested on charges he fatally struck a scooter driver at Roxbury Crossing and then drove away last November was indicted last week on new charges that could put him in prison for a much longer sentence, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Colin Ratiu is expected to be arraigned tomorrow in Suffolk Superior Court on charges of motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of alcohol, which has a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, and leaving the scene of an accident causing death, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Ratiu hit Andrew Prior on Tremont Street on Nov. 14, then kept driving his Hyundai Santa Fe toward Brigham Circle as Prior lay dying. Police found Ratiu's SUV - with extensive front-end damage - in his driveway.

Ratiu had been arrested - after an extensive search - on a charge of negligent motor vehicle homicide, which would have meant no more than 2 1/2 years in a county jail.

Innocent, etc.