Charlton Man Faces Charges In Mass Pike Toll Worker's Death

AUBURN (CBS) -- A Charlton man is facing charges in the death of a Mass. Pike toll collector who was struck and killed by a car in July 2015.

Police say 32-year-old Matthew McAvey was driving the pickup truck near the toll booth at exit 10 in Auburn just after midnight on July 31 when he struck 61-year-old toll worker Vasilios "Bill" Pappas. Pappas was walking across an E-ZPass express lane to take a break.

Police say the incident occurred because McAvey was driving at least 36 miles per hour in a 15 miles per hour zone.

"If he had been operating at the speed limit, then McAvey likely would have had time to reduce his speed sufficiently to either minimize Pappas's injuries, or avoid a crash altogether," according to the police report.

McAvey's charges include speeding, vehicular homicide, and driving to endanger.

He is scheduled to be arraigned in Central District Court on Feb. 9.