Man with child in car in crash that killed motorcyclist in Bridgewater sentenced to prison

BROCKTON – A Whitman man has pleaded guilty to charges that he was under the influence of drugs and behind the wheel when he caused a fatal motorcycle crash in Bridgewater in 2018, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.

In Plymouth County Superior Court, 34-year-old Anthony Hathaway of Whitman, pleaded guilty to one count each of Motor Vehicle Homicide while Operating Under the Influence of Drugs, Endangering a Child While Operating Under the Influence of Drugs, and Reckless Endangerment of a Child. Brockton Superior Court Judge William Sullivan sentenced Hathaway to serve 5-7 years in state prison, to be followed by two years of probation.

At approximately 11:50 a.m. on August 16, 2018, Bridgewater Police and emergency personnel responded to the area of 350 Bedford Street for a report of a crash. Upon arrival, first responders found that a Toyota Camry and a motorcycle had collided. The motorcycle operator was found with serious, life-threatening injuries and was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton where he was pronounced dead. He was identified as 71-year-old Richard Silva of Brockton.

Hathaway, the operator of the Toyota sedan, remained at the scene. Bridgewater Police conducted an investigation and determined that Hathaway was under the influence of drugs and was placed under arrest. A 7-year-old boy who was in Hathaway’s vehicle at the time of the crash was not injured.

The investigation by Bridgewater Police further found that Hathaway was travelling northbound on Route 18 when he crossed the center line and drove into the southbound lane of traffic in an effort to pass the vehicle in front of him.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin O’Leary prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Bridgewater Police.