Driver Arraigned in Fatal October Crash

A 21-year-old East Falmouth man was arraigned today on charges of motor vehicle homicide and OUI liquor in connection with .

On October 30 of last year, the Falmouth police and fire departments responded to a one-vehicle crash in the area of 371 Jones Road shortly after midnight. The car had been traveling on Jones Road when it fishtailed and hit a tree and a fence before coming to a stop on Dove Cottage Road.

Two occupants of the vehicle, Bryan Laughead, 38, and Jamie Duffany, 28, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Matthew Laughead, 21, was transported to  before being taken to a Boston-area hospital. 

The charges against Matthew Laughead were filed in March after police and the accident restoration team finished a four-month investigation.

According to a police report released in court today, Matthew Laughead was able to speak for 15 minutes at the hospital regarding the crash. In his report, Officer Bryan Hazelton said he was able to smell a moderate stench of alcohol coming from Laughead’s mouth as he spoke, and that his body smelled of alcohol. 

Police had also received information since the day of the crash that Bryan, Matthew, and James had been at the drinking beers on the night of the crash. The bar manager also identified them as having been there that night. 

After his arraignment today on charges of motor vehicle homicide/OUI liquor, motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, OUI liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and a marked lanes violation, Laughead is due back in court on July 12 for a pretrial hearing.