A man driving a truck hit a Tombstone resident with his vehicle on May 1 following an argument the two men had.   

Matt Carraffa was airlifted to University Medical Center in Tucson. He is the son of Michael Carrafa, owner of Six Gun City.  

R.W. Cowan Wood, 18, was booked at the Cochise County Jail in Bisbee for second-degree attempted murder. He was released the following day.

“It’s a very serious situation that occurred,” said Marshal Larry Talvy.  “As far as investigating, we’re looking at every aspect of the case, regardless of who the victim is.”

Matt, 27, was at his home on Allen Street when a feud between Wood and himself intensified over the phone. Matt’s brother, who is also named Michael Carrafa, said Wood told Matt he was going to drive to the Carrafas’ house and escalate the argument if Matt would not to call the police to stop him.

Matt agreed.

But when Wood arrived in his 1985 Ford F250, the father said he drove about 40 mph at his son and hit him.

“When I saw him get hit, I thought he might be dead,” Matt’s father said.

Matt’s brother said the impact was deliberate and that afterward, Matt was disoriented and didn’t know where he was.

“There was an exchange of words between the two and we are trying to look into that matter to find out was that the real motive of the case or was there another reason,” Talvy said.

Talvy and the Tombstone Fire Department came to the scene to assist the victim. A law enforcement officer with the Forest Service arrived and escorted the ambulance holding Matt to the fire station. At the fire station, a helicopter awaited to take Matt to Tucson.

According to Matt’s father, his son was treated for a concussion, a fractured wrist and forearm, which required multiple stitches.

“We’re disappointed that (Wood) wasn’t held any longer but it obviously shows that we might have done something wrong as a department,” Talvy said. “Whether we failed to mark something properly or if it was just the judge’s decision, we’re looking into every aspect. Ultimately, the judge has the final decision.”