An off-duty Hanover police officer is now facing serious criminal charges after a crash in Brockton early Sunday left a 23-year-old pedestrian dead, according to local authorities. The Hanover Police Department has identified the officer as 29-year-old Thomas Hayes and says he has been placed on administrative leave.
Massachusetts State Police arrested Hayes on Monday and charged him with motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene of a crash, according to WCVB. The outlet reports the victim was 23 and that Hayes posted $10,000 bail. He is listed as due in Brockton District Court on Tuesday.
"We hold our officers to the highest standards of conduct, both on and off-duty," Hanover Police Chief Timothy Kane said in a department statement, according to Boston 25. The department stressed that Hayes was not acting in his official capacity at the time of the crash and said it will release additional information as it becomes available.
How prosecutors say the crash unfolded
According to the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office, Hayes left the scene after the collision but later returned and went to the Brockton Police Department, WCVB reports. State police handled the arrest in Brockton, and the case has been referred to local prosecutors for charging decisions.
Legal stakes under state law
Leaving the scene after a crash that causes death is a felony under Massachusetts law and carries a mandatory minimum sentence of one year and up to 10 years in state prison, along with fines, according to M.G.L. c. 90.
The investigation is ongoing, and local officials say they will provide updates as more information becomes available. This story will be updated as new court filings and official statements are released.
