Longtime Wareham Firefighter Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash

A well-known Wareham man was identified as the victim of a hit-and-run crash on Cranberry Highway.

Kenneth "Kenny" Baptiste, 65, was riding his motorcycle at around 11:09 p.m. June 12 on Cranberry Highway in Wareham when a vehicle collided with his motorcycle and left the scene, according to the Office of Michael O'Keefe, District Attorney for the Cape & Islands District.

Baptiste was transported to the hospital where he died of his injuries.

Prosecutors on Monday said that the operator of the vehicle was later identified as 19-year-old Cameron Silva of Onset, but they did not say if an arrest was made or if charges were filed. The matter remains under investigation by Wareham Police and Massachusetts State Police.

The Cape & Islands DA is handling the case due to a conflict with the Plymouth County DA's office, according to a press release.

Baptiste was a longtime on-call firefighter, sat on the Prudential Committee Board for the Wareham Fire District, previously served on the Conservation Commission, and for five years was a patrolman with the Wareham Police Department.