The defense for the driver charged in connection with a deadly crash into a Hingham Apple Store is pointing fingers at faulty artificial intelligence technology, WCVB reported.
Bradley Rein, 53, pleaded not guilty to indictments on second-degree murder and motor vehicle homicide after Kevin Bradley, 65, of Wayne, N.J., was killed when Rein’s 2019 Toyota 4Runner smashed through the Derby Shops on Nov. 21, 2022.
- Read more: Hingham Apple Store defendant Bradley Rein says crash was accident, foot was stuck on gas
Rein was also charged with 18 counts of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and four counts of assault and battery, along with reckless operation of a motor vehicle, after almost two dozen people were hurt in the incident.
On Nov. 21, 2022, the car crashed through the plate glass window of Apple’s retail location at the Derby Street Shops plaza in Hingham and careened across the store floor. It finally stopped when it smashed into the back wall, officials said.
Plymouth County prosecutors had previously said Rein’s SUV traveled through the plaza parking lot at a “consistent high rate of speed” reaching 60 mph before entering the Apple Store. There was no indication the man applied the brakes, prosecutors said.
After the incident, Rein went voluntarily with investigators to the Hingham Police Department to be interviewed, prosecutors said. He said he had been shopping earlier in the morning and that his right foot became stuck on the accelerator as he drove through the lot. He said he tried to brake, but was unable to, police reported.
Rein told officers he had no medical issues and that the car had no mechanical concerns he knew of. He said he had not consumed alcohol or drugs Monday morning. According to prosecutors, a voluntary breathalyzer test at the police station had a reading of 0.00%.
Since then, Rein’s lawyers have filed a motion against Toyota, WCVB reported. The motion claims the AI software installed in his car caused it to unintentionally accelerate.
Rein’s lawyer are hoping to get additional crash data from Toyota, the news outlet reported.
