'Immense sorrow': Brockton fifth grader killed in crash, siblings, parents also injured

BROCKTON — A 10-year-old Brockton fifth grader has been identified as the victim of a car crash that seriously injured his sibling and parents, Brockton Public Schools confirmed in a post on Facebook.

Jaylen Bush-Victorian, a rising fifth grader at Downey Elementary School, was killed when an allegedly drunk driver hit the car he and his family were traveling in on Route 1 in Plainville on Sunday night.

The crash seriously injured Jaylen’s two siblings, who also attend Brockton schools, and his parents, including his mother who serves as a paraprofessional at the Barrett Russell Early Childhood Center, according to Brockton Public Schools.

"He was a beautiful child," a family member of Bush-Victorian, who did not share her name, told reporters outside the courthouse where the driver was arraigned on OUI charges on Monday, Aug. 26, WCVB reported. "He was adored by everyone. If you encountered him, you would have fell in love with this child. He had a heart of gold. He loved his family."

The Facebook post from Brockton Public Schools said, “It’s challenging to find the words to describe the sense of loss brought on by this tragedy. Our hearts are with the family and all those who love them as they mourn.”

“Life is precious. Prayers and condolences to his family during this immense sorrow,” Brockton City Councilor Winthrop Farwell wrote in a post on Facebook.

Adjustment counselors will be available at Downey Elementary School on Wednesday Aug. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon, for members of the school community impacted by the loss.

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Crash that killed Brockton fifth grader: What happened?

Michael Escolas, 42, of Oxford, was arraigned Monday, Aug. 26, in Wrenthem District Court on 16 counts including including motor vehicle homicide with OUI liquor, OUI liquor second offense and larceny of a motor vehicle, according to WCVB. His bail was set at $100,000 and and his license was seized at the time of the accident.

Prosecutors said Escolas caused the crash after leaving the parking lot of Gillette Stadium after a Kenney Chesney concert when he stole a Jeep Grand Cherokee and began traveling down Route 1 at a high rate of speed while intoxicated, WCVB reported. Escolas was traveling at approximately 50 mph when he crashed into a Nissan Altima occupied by the Bush-Victorian family, that was stopped at a red light at the intersection with Interstate 495, prosecutors said.

After the arraignment, WCVB NewsCenter 5's Ted Wayman asked Escolas if he had anything to say to Jaylen's family.

"I'm so sorry. I have a 10-year-old boy, too," Escolas responded on the video.

What are the charges against Michael Escolas?

Escolas was arraigned on 16 charges, including motor vehicle homicide with OUI liquor, OUI liquor second offense, larceny of a motor vehicle, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violation, speeding, failure to use care in starting, stopping, turning or backing up and nine counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, according to court documents.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton fifth grader Jaylen Bush-Victorian killed in Plainville crash