NEW VINEYARD - Local police will soon speak with Domingos Medeiros of Assonet, Mass., the suspect in a fatal accident here last week, his attorney said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, police in Massachusetts continued to search for Medeiros on Tuesday.

"Medeiros is expected to appear in Maine within the next 24 hours," his attorney, Walter McKee of Augusta, said Tuesday afternoon.

Medeiros was charged Friday with leaving the scene of an accident in New Vineyard in which beams fell from his trailer resulting in the death of a New Portland driver, Stephen McKenney, 55, on Jan. 16.

McKee was retained as counsel Friday but was unable to talk with Cpl. Stephen Charles of the Franklin County Sheriff's Department or confirm the warrant until Tuesday morning due to the Monday holiday, he said. He has contacted the district attorney's office and expects Medeiros will appear for bail to be set soon.

Charles was expecting Medeiros, the vehicle and trailer to return to Maine after speaking with McKee, as noted in a news statement.

Charles and Detective Thomas White traveled to Fall River, Mass., on Thursday after being contacted by Medeiros' attorney, Emile Morad, of New Bedford, Mass., White said Tuesday.

They arrived shortly after midnight to see the truck in a fenced area at Medeiros' business, Hardpine Inc.

Expecting to return in the morning to meet Morad and examine the truck, White said, they found the truck and trailer missing and were told it was being used for a delivery.

As the morning progressed, it became apparent that the driver, truck and trailer were not going to be produced, he said. They went to Fall River police where Charles sent an arrest warrant back to Maine.

The warrant for Medeiros was entered into a nationwide crime information computer system so if he is stopped by police anywhere in the United States the officer will know he's wanted.

Fall River police drafted an arrest warrant for Medeiros for the charge of being a fugitive from justice in Maine as a result of the arrest warrant issued in Maine, the Sheriff's Department release stated.

Fall River police obtained a search warrant for the business but neither Medeiros nor the vehicle were there during the search Friday evening.

They also went to his home in Freetown, a bedroom community of Fall River, and were let into the house by his wife, but he was not there and she told the officers she didn't know where he was, he said.

Fall River and Freetown police continued their search and attempts to locate Medeiros without success, Charles stated.

Medeiros and his wife were in Maine to pick up beams that were cut incorrectly and take them back to Massachusetts. The beams had been purchased to build a horse barn in Kingfield, White said.

Several beams fell from the trailer, striking McKenney's windshield. He died at the scene. A second vehicle was also struck, and the driver and her passenger received minor injuries.

Witnesses continue to come forward in the investigation and have been helpful, Charles said.