Wareham man pleads not guilty to OUI, leaving the scene in fatal motorcycle crash

A 67-year-old Wareham man pleaded not guilty on Monday, July 28 to charges he was intoxicated and fled the scene after a crash that fatally injured a motorcyclist. 

Raymond Cardoza was arraigned Monday in Wareham District Court in connection with the death of 25-year-old Jordan Hansen of Mattapoisset. He was charged with operating under the influence, operating under the influence causing death, leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving with a suspended license. He was ordered held on a $250,000 cash bail. 

Cardoza has been arrested three previous times for operating while intoxicated, once in 2013, 1999 and 1985. None of the previous charges were considered at the arraignment due to the statute of limitations. 

Around 5:05 p.m. Friday, July 25, Cardoza’s Hyundai Sonata collided with Hansen’s motorcycle on route 28 near Wareham Ford and Robertson’s GMC. According to witnesses at the scene, Cardoza turned left from Cranberry Highway onto Monterio Street — pulling out in front of Hansen.

Police at the scene found Hansen unresponsive on the ground with life threatening injuries and labored breathing. He was transported first to Tobey Hospital and then to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, where he died from his injuries.

Cardoza left the scene and drove to his sister's residence on Mattos Avenue, a quarter-of-a-mile from the scene of the crash.  Upon arrival at the residence, officers identified Cardoza who confirmed that he had been driving the Sonata. 

Cardoza told officers that he had been consuming alcohol and fled the scene out of fear. Multiple officers detected a strong odor of alcohol on Cardoza’s breath during interviews.

"I know I shouldn't have been driving anyway," Cardoza told responding Police Officer Blaise Lalli, "It's my birthday."

Members of Cardoza’s and Hansen’s family attended court on Monday. 

Hansen's father, Tim Murray, said that the family wants privacy following the accident.

"We're trying to process the grief that we're going through and losing our son to a senseless tragedy that should have been avoided," Murray said.

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz, who was at Cardoza’s arraignment, criticized Massachusetts’ statute of limitations laws. 

"An individual who has allegedly killed somebody with three prior OUI's— I think that person is dangerous," he said.

Cruz emphasized the importance of dealing with repeat offenders.

"There needs to be more time for individuals who choose to get drunk or heavily influenced on alcohol, get behind the wheel and operate recklessly in that fashion," he said. "You're destroying families."

Murray said that Cardoza being a repeat offender was frustrating.

"He was out there and he obviously has no respect for the law. He had his license suspended and he was still driving. Whatever sentence is handed down I don't think he'll respect that either," Murray said. 

Cardoza's family declined to comment. 

Cardoza is scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday, August 27.