Man accused of stealing Jeep from Kenny Chesney concert, killing boy in crash said he "messed up," DA says
WRENTHAM – Michael Escolas, the man accused of stealing a Jeep during Kenny Chesney's concert Saturday night at Gillette Stadium then killing a 10-year-old boy in a crash nearby, allegedly told his wife he had "one too many" and "messed up."
Escolas is facing charges that include motor vehicle manslaughter while operating under the influence.
The Oxford man was arraigned on Monday in Wrentham District Court. He was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail with conditions that he not drive, stay away from the victims in the case, and not drink alcohol.
Outside of court, family members held up a photo of the 10-year-old victim, who they identified as Jaylen Bush-Victorian.
Deadly crash during Kenny Chesney concert
According to police, Escolas stole a Vermont couple's Jeep from the Gillette Stadium parking lot while they were attending the Kenny Chesney concert. Prosecutor Adam Lally said a purse inside the Jeep had a key fob inside it, allowing Escolas to start it and drive off.
Escolas was allegedly driving about 50 mph when he slammed into a family of six that was stopped at a red light in Plainville on Route 1 near the intersection of Interstate 495. Lally said two adults were in the front seats of the car and their four children were in the back when the impact occurred.
All six family members, as well as Escolas, were hospitalized following the crash. The couple's 10-year-old boy died at the hospital. The conditions of the surviving family members have not been released, but Lally described their injuries as serious.
Investigators have not yet released the names of the victims.
Several other cars were also damaged following the crash.
Michael Escolas appears in court
Lally said that when police arrived on scene, Escolas had a "strong and overwhelming" smell of alcohol. He also had slurred speech and glassy eyes, police said.
Prosecutors said that when asked what happened, Escolas said "I came up quick, I don't know."
Escolas was taken to the hospital for treatment, then released under arrest. Lally said that when he called his wife from a recorded line he said, "Still one too many. One too many. Messed up."
According to Lally, Escolas had been drinking prior to the concert starting at 1 p.m. Police said he was drinking whiskey into the evening hours, and never went to his seat.
Escolas is facing a maximum of 20 years in prison on the vehicular manslaughter charge.
His attorney asked for lower cash bail, calling the incident "tragic," but saying there was no reason to believe Escolas wouldn't show up for proceedings.
The judge said he would revisit his decision to set bail at $100,000 if the case stays at the district court level.
Members of the victims' family were in the courtroom and could be heard crying during the proceedings.
Jaylen Bush-Victorian's family speaks outside court
Jaylen Bush-Victorian's family spoke outside court after Escolas' arraignment.
"He had a heart of gold. He loved his family. He was the protector of his brothers," said the boy's grandmother, who declined to give her name.
Bush-Victorian's maternal and paternal grandmothers told reporters that his parents are not doing well. His father was driving the Nissan the family was in at the time of the crash.
"He's delusional. He don't think that his son is gone. He don't think he's gone," one of them said.
The grandmothers said they hope Escolas will remain behind bars for some time.
"We want him to be held accountable for his actions and the devastation he has caused our family," one woman said.
Counselors at Brockton schools
Jaylen Bush-Victorian was a rising fifth grader at the Downey School in Brockton, according to school officials. The boy's mother, who was also injured in the crash, is a paraprofessional at the Barrett Russell Early Childhood Center in the city.
"It's challenging to find the words to describe the sense of loss brought on by this tragedy. Our hearts are with the family and all those who love them as they mourn," Brockton Public Schools said in a statement Tuesday.
Counselors will be available to members of the school community from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday at the Downey School.
Gillette Stadium statement after deadly crash
A Gillette Stadium spokesperson issued a statement following the crash.
"We are deeply saddened and extend our sincerest condolences to the family who has tragically lost a loved one," the statement read. "We are working with the Massachusetts State Police, who are doing the investigation under the jurisdiction of the Norfolk District Attorney's Office, to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. Once again, we offer our heartfelt sympathies to the family."