The Massachusetts motorist accused of plowing into an Apple retailer at a “constant excessive charge of velocity” instructed police his foot bought caught on the accelerator and he could not brake in time to keep away from the lethal crash, officers mentioned Tuesday.
Bradley Rein, 53, made his first look in Hingham District Courtroom, the place Choose Heather Bradley ordered the defendant held in lieu of $100,000 bond and instructed him to not drive if he posts bail.
He is been charged with felony reckless murder by motorized vehicle and misdemeanor operation of a automotive, stemming from Monday morning’s crash in Hingham, which is about 16 miles southeast of downtown Boston.
Kevin Bradley, a 65-year-old Wayne, New Jersey resident, was killed and at the least 20 folks had been injured, officers mentioned.
“Whereas driving within the space of Barnes & Noble, Mr. Rein states his proper foot turned caught on the accelerator and his car accelerated,” in keeping with a courtroom doc.
“Mr. Rein acknowledged he used his left foot to attempt to brake however was unable to cease the car and the car crashed by the entrance of the Apple Retailer. Mr Rein acknowledged the whole lot occurred quick.”
Rein instructed investigators he had no medical points that will’ve impaired his driving, and his breathalyzer take a look at confirmed no hint of alcohol, the courtroom doc mentioned.
His 2019 Toyota 4Runner crashed by the shop’s glass entrance, went by the gross sales flooring earlier than lastly coming to relaxation in opposition to the again wall, Plymouth County Assistant District Legal professional David Cutshall instructed the courtroom.
“Investigators interviewed witnesses and seen surveillance video which appeared to point out the darkish coloured SUV touring at a constant excessive charge of velocity down the journey lane and straight into the Apple retailer,” Cutshall mentioned.
He had no connection to anybody within the retailer, in keeping with protection lawyer Alison King, who had requested for bail to be set at $20,000. The defendant’s lawyer did not problem any of info of the case as acknowledged by prosecutors in courtroom.
The unemployed software program salesman has lived in Massachusetts for 30 years and has lengthy ties to the group, in keeping with King, who repeatedly referred to as Monday’s tragedy “an unlucky accident.”
“As he defined, his foot bought caught on the accelerator — as he defined to me, it was type of between the accelerator pedal and the facet and his foot bought caught,” King mentioned. “He tried to maneuver his foot to get it unstuck. He additionally tried to brake along with his different foot whereas he was doing that, however he was unable to. It is simply actually unlucky.”
Rein has a clear legal document, although he was charged with alleged driving underneath the affect in Vermont in December, 2020. However that case was later expunged, legal professionals on each side mentioned.
The defendant’s subsequent courtroom date is about for Dec. 22.
He faces as much as 5 years behind bars if convicted on the highest rely, a Plymouth County District Legal professional’s spokeswoman mentioned, and as much as two years on the misdemeanor.