Quincy Van Operator Accused Of Allowing Passenger Death

QUINCY, MA — A Quincy man who operated a van to transport those who are differently abled is accused of failing to get medical aid for a passenger, resulting in their death, said Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz in a news release.

George Wise, 70, was indicted by a Plymouth County grand jury Tuesday on one count of Permitting Serious Bodily Injury to a Disabled Person, said Cruz.

The charge against Wise stems from an incident that took place on June 26, 2019, when prosecutors say Hingham Police responded to a 911 call from staff at Road To Responsibility reporting an unresponsive male, identified at Jospeh Lavigne, 24, of Norwell. Lavigne was transported to South Shore Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, and Massachusetts State Police Detectives immediately began an investigation.

"As a result of the investigation and a timeline of events, detectives determined that Wise, who operated the van for VHS Transportation Company, picked up Lavigne at a group home in Norwell, was made aware of Lavigne's sudden, declining medical condition and failed to take action, ignoring medical equipment alarms and several notifications by a female van monitor who attempted to alert Wise to the medical episode," said the news release.

Wise will be arraigned in Brockton Superior Court at a later date.