Bradley Rein hit 60 mph in deadly Hingham Apple Store crash, prosecutors say
BROCKTON - Bradley Rein, the driver charged in the deadly crash at the Hingham Apple Store last year, pleaded not guilty Monday to several new charges in the case as prosecutors revealed he was driving up to 60 mph at the time of impact.
Rein was arraigned on a second-degree murder charge in Plymouth County Superior Court in the death of 65-year-old Kevin Bradley of Wayne, New Jersey in the November 21 crash. A judge set bail at $100,000 and ordered Rein to turn in his passport.
Prosecutors said Rein, 53, of Hingham, drove his SUV through the glass window into the store, killing Bradley and leaving 22 other people hurt.
Rein told police his foot got stuck on the gas pedal and that he tried to hit the brakes.
He was initially charged with reckless homicide. A grand jury indicted him last month on more than two dozen charges, including the upgraded murder charge.
In court Monday, a prosecutor said an analysis of the data recorder from Rein's 2019 Toyota 4Runner indicated that in the five seconds prior to the crash, it accelerated to up to 60 mph and there was no indication that the brakes were applied.
Rein's vehicle "accelerated to a high speed ... before it veered to the left, drove up onto the sidewalk and then crashed through the glass door of the Apple store, went across the sales floor and crashed into the rear wall of the store," prosecutor David Cutshall said in court.
Rein's attorney, Joan Fund, did not address the prosecution's version of events in court, but she had previously said she was "astounded" by the murder charge. A voicemail seeking comment was left with Fund on Monday.
Rein was not impaired by drugs or alcohol, and state police investigators found no mechanical issues with the SUV that would have contributed to the crash, Cutshall said.
"All the injuries are serious, and many of them are devastating," said Doug Sheff, an attorney who's representing ten injured people in a civil lawsuit against Apple and the company that manages the Hingham Derby Street Shops shopping center.
The store now has protective metal poles at the entrance, that were not there when the crash happened. "This was 100% preventable, no matter how it happened, didn't have to. With no bollards or barriers or other measures to keep these premises safe, unfortunately that's what led to so many tragic injuries," Sheff said.
Under an agreement between the prosecution and defense, Rein will remain free on the $100,000 bail he posted after his district court arraignment under several conditions including that he not drive and wear a GPS tracking device.
He's due back in court June 21.
