Man accused of stealing a Jeep at a Kenny Chesney concert and killing a boy in a crash said he 'messed up,' prosecutor says

WRENTHAM – Michael Escolas, the man accused of stealing a Jeep during Kenny Chesney’s concert at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night, Killing of a 10-year-old boy in a nearby accident, reportedly told his wife that he had had “one too many” and “messed it up.”

Escolas is charged with, among other things, negligent homicide in road traffic under the influence of alcohol.

The Oxford man was arraigned in Wrentham District Court on Monday. He was ordered held on $100,000 bail and ordered not to drive, stay away from victims in the case and not to drink alcohol.

Outside court, family members held up a photo of the 10-year-old victim, whom they identified as Jaylen Bush-Victorian.

Fatal accident at Kenny Chesney concert

According to police, Escolas stole a Vermont couple's Jeep from the parking lot of Gillette Stadium while they were attending a Kenny Chesney concert. Prosecutor Adam Lally said a purse in the Jeep contained a key fob that Escolas used to start the car and drive away.

Escolas is said to have hit a family of six who were stopped at a red light in Plainville on Route 1 near the intersection with Interstate 495 at about 50 mph. Lally said two adults were sitting in the front seats of the car and their four children were in the back seats at the time of the impact.

All six family members, as well as Escolas, were hospitalized after the accident. The couple's 10-year-old son died in hospital. The condition of the surviving family members was not disclosed, but Lally described their injuries as severe.

Investigators have not yet released the names of the victims.

Several other cars were also damaged in the accident.

Michael Escolas appears in court

Lally said when police arrived at the scene, Escolas smelled “strongly and overwhelmingly” of alcohol. He also had slurred speech and glassy eyes, police said.

When asked what happened, Escolas replied, according to the prosecutor: “I got up quickly, I don't know.”

Escolas was taken to the hospital for treatment and then released under arrest. Lally said when he called his wife from a recorded number, he said, “Still one too many. One too many. Screwed up.”

According to Lally, Escolas had been drinking before the concert, which began at 1 p.m. According to police, he drank whiskey into the evening and never went to his seat.

Escolas faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years for negligent homicide.

His lawyer asked for a lower bail and called the incident “tragic,” but added that there was no reason to believe Escolas would not appear for trial.

The judge said he would reconsider his decision to set bail at $100,000 if the case remains in district court.

Relatives of the victims were in the courtroom and could be heard crying during the trial.

Jaylen Bush-Victorian's family speaks outside court

The family of Jaylen Bush-Victorian spoke outside the courtroom after Escolas' arraignment.

“He had a heart of gold. He loved his family. He was the protector of his brothers,” said the boy's grandmother, who did not want to give her name.

Bush-Victorian's maternal and paternal grandmothers told reporters that his parents were not well. His father was driving the Nissan the family was in at the time of the accident.

“He is delusional. He doesn't believe his son is gone. He doesn't believe he is gone,” one of them said.

The grandmothers said they hoped Escolas would remain behind bars for some time.

“We want him to be held accountable for his actions and the destruction he has caused to our family,” one woman said.

Statement from Gillette Stadium following fatal accident

A Gillette Stadium spokesman issued a statement following the accident.

“We are deeply saddened and extend our sincere condolences to the family who tragically lost a loved one,” the statement said. “We are working with the Massachusetts State Police, who are conducting the investigation under the jurisdiction of the Norfolk District Attorney's Office, to understand the circumstances of this tragic event. We again extend our deepest sympathies to the family.”