Man Sentenced in Motor Vehicle Homicide Case That Killed Dedham Resident

Ray Alvarez was driving near 303 Newton St. on May 28, 2011, when the car he was driving crashed into a medical transport van carrying 72-year-old Irving Vogel, of Dedham. Vogel later died as a result of his injuries. 

Alvarez, during a March 25 hearing at Middlesex Superior Court, was sentenced to four years in jail and three years of probabtion after he is released, according to Middlesex County District Attorney spokesman MaryBeth Long. 

Alvarez pleaded guilty to motor vehicle homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol, negligence and leaving the scene of personal injury and death, Long said. He also pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of property damage. As part of the probation, Alvarez, a Guatamalan native, will lose his license for 15 years, surrender to six months of house arrest and perform 100 hours of community service, according to Waltham Newswatch. 

For the motor vehicle homicide charge, Alvarez will serve two years, according to Long. For the personal injury charge, Alvarez will serve two years in prison concurrent to the homicide charge. 

2011 CRASH

Alvarez was travelling west on High Street at 50 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone when he struck the van Vogel was travelling in, according to Waltham Newswatch. Alvarez fled the scene and returned to his Alder Street home where he struck the house, according to Waltham Newswatch. Alvarez had been drinking at Paisano's Restaurant & Bar prior to the crash. Vogel's family, in 2012, named the bar in a civil lawsuit, according to Waltham Newswatch.