Massachusetts police officer placed on leave after alleged fatal hit-and-run that killed 23-year-old

BROCKTON – A Massachusetts police officer was arraigned today in Brockton District Court following a fatal hit-and-run the previous day, where he is accused of striking and killing a pedestrian, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy JCruz.

36-year-old Thomas Hayes faces charges of Motor Vehicle Homicide and Leaving the Scene of an Accident Following Personal Injury or Death. He was ordered held on $15,000 cash bail and prohibited from operating any motor vehicles as a condition of his release.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours, when Brockton Police received reports of an unresponsive man lying in a snowbank near the intersection of Battles and Cross Streets. First responders transported the victim to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. He has been identified as 23-year-old Alfredo Alves.

In the hours after the crash, a witness voluntarily contacted the Brockton Police Department and reported being a passenger in the vehicle that struck Alves. The witness identified Hayes as the driver of a 2022 Ford Explorer involved in the collision. The witness, along with another passenger who also spoke with investigators, described damage to the vehicle—including a shattered windshield—consistent with the impact.

Law enforcement located a Ford Explorer matching the description, with visible damage, in Hayes’ driveway at his Hanover residence. Surveillance footage recovered from Brockton showed Hayes operating the Ford Explorer shortly before the fatal crash. Police arrested Hayes at his home without incident.

According to WCVB, Hayes is a Hanover police officer who was off duty at the time and has been placed on administrative leave.

CBS Boston noted that police said they noticed a strong odor of alcohol when they took Hayes into custody.

Hayes is scheduled to appear in court again on March 31.

The investigation, led by Massachusetts State Police and Brockton Police, remains active and ongoing.