Bellingham man sentenced to 4-5 years in state prison for 2021 motor vehicle homicide

BOSTON, September 12, 2022—A Bellingham man pleaded guilty today in Suffolk Superior Court to killing one pedestrian and injuring two others after the car he was driving struck them last October in Roxbury, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

Kevin McCaffrey, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of drugs and one count of operating under the influence of drugs.  Judge Michael Doolin sentenced McCaffrey to four to five years in state prison and seven years probation.

Assistant District Attorney Erin Murphy said that at about 10:25 a.m. on October 16, 2021, McCaffrey’s 2012 Honda Civic veered off Theodore Glynn Parkway in Roxbury and struck three pedestrians. 

Lisa Vadeboncoeur was pronounced dead after being treated by Boston EMS and transported to Boston Medical Center.  A second victim suffered leg and head injuries and required emergency surgery.  The third victim was treated and released the same day.

During an interview with detectives following the incident McCaffrey nodded off several times.  A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) who evaluated McCaffrey formed the opinion that he was impaired by narcotics.  Toxicology testing determined that McCaffrey’s blood was positive for fentanyl, cocaine and benzodiazepines. 

Several family members gave victim impact statements at the sentencing.

“Mr. McCaffrey made numerous tragic choices that morning.  He chose to ingest powerful drugs, then he chose to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and drive on city streets.  Those choices led to one person’s death and another’s serious injuries, and to survivors forever mourning a beloved family member and friend,” Hayden said.  

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications