DA: Fall River Driver Who Killed Motorcyclist Sentenced to Prison

A 40-year-old Fall River man who left the scene of a fatal crash in the summer of 2018 was sentenced this week to serve three to four years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today.

In March, Irvin Dominguez Cruz was convicted by a Fall River Superior Court jury of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation and leaving the scene with death resulting, but the defendant's sentencing was postponed due to the COVID-19 courthouse closures in Massachusetts.

On June 14, 2018, Cruz was driving a large Enterprise box truck south on Highland Avenue in Fall River when he suddenly turned left onto Courtney Street, the entranceway to Royal Crest Apartments. Christopher Mills, 29, of Taunton, was riding his motorcycle north on Highland Avenue. The truck blocked Mills’s travel lane, and he collided with the truck, leaving a 57-foot skid mark. The truck kept going. Mills was treated at the scene by paramedics and transported to Rhode Island Hospital where he died of his injuries, Quinn's office said in a media release.

Meanwhile, police found Cruz at his Royal Crest apartment and learned that he had returned the damaged vehicle to his employer's storage yard in Stoughton. The defendant’s boss had given Cruz a ride home, during which time Cruz made no mention of the incident. On the way, the two passed the crash scene and observed a large police presence and a motorcycle on the ground, but Cruz did not identify himself to investigators. The defendant, according to his own statement, went home, discussed the matter with his wife, and fell asleep, according to the Bristol County District Attorney.

The case was prosecuted by ADA Michael Cahillane, and the state prison sentence was imposed by Judge William Sullivan.

"Not only did the defendant cause the accident that resulted in the victim’s death, but he left the scene and had to be arrested by the police. He made no effort to turn himself in. As tragic as this case is for the victim’s family, I hope they feel that there has been some measure of accountability for their loved one’s death," District Attorney Quinn said.