A Dorchester man has been charged with striking and killing a bicyclist on Morrissey Boulevard last week. Michael D. Ahern, 46 years old, was arraigned in Dorchester Municipal Court for motor vehicle homicide, drunken driving, operating to endanger and speeding, to which he pleaded not guilty on all counts. His bail was set at $25,000.
State Police reports stated that Ahern was traveling in his 2011 F150 pickup truck on William T. Morrissey Boulevard at about 12:30 a.m. on September 14 when he struck Doan Bui, 63, of Dorchester, who was riding her bicycle southbound on the boulevard. Bui was announced dead at the scene. According to Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Patrick K. Devlin, the impact of the vehicle threw the victim “a significant distance.”
Devlin did note that Ahern stayed on the scene and call 911 on his cellphone after the incident occurred. However, he also acknowledged to State Police troopers that he had had one drink at a restaurant shortly before the crash. In addition, he hired an attorney shortly after he was taken to Boston Medical Center at his own request. Because he had an attorney, he was not questioned but rather observed by trooper Thomas D. Canning after his arrival at the hospital. The police also determined that his vehicle was traveling at 50 miles an hour at the time of the crash, while the posted speed limit was reported to be 30 miles an hour. No signs of Ahern braking were found on the roadway.
Attorneys from both sides of the case have confirmed that Ahern was convicted of arson in Suffolk Superior Court back in 1989 and received a 20-year prison sentence. However, further details regarding the conviction were unavailable. Ahern is expected back in court November 21.
Dorchester man charged in crash that killed bicyclist on Morrissey Boulevard, The Boston Globe, September 17, 2012