WAREHAM — Jordan Hansen, 25, of Mattapoisett died on Friday, July 25 after sustaining life threatening injuries following a car accident caused by an intoxicated driver in Wareham.

Around 5:05 p.m., Wareham resident Raymond Cardoza, 67, collided his Hyundai Sonata with Hansen’s motorcycle on Route 28 near Wareham Ford and Robertson’s GMC.

According to witnesses at the scene, Cardoza, who was driving under the influence, turned left from Cranberry Highway onto Monterio Street — pulling out in front of Hansen.

Police at the scene found Hansen unresponsive on the ground with life threatening injuries and labored breathing. Hansen was initially brought to Tobey Hospital then to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford where he died from his injuries.

Hansen, who is the son of lifelong Mattapoisett residents, graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School in 2018 and attended MassBay Community College. According to his Facebook page, he began working at Robertson’s GMC in 2019.

Cardoza, who fled the scene of the accident, was found a quarter-of-a-mile away at his sister’s residence on Mattos Avenue. Upon arrival at the residence, officers identified Cardoza who confirmed that he had been driving the Sonata. 

Cardoza told officers that he had been consuming alcohol and left the scene out of fear. Multiple officers detected a strong odor of alcohol on Cardoza’s breath during interviews.

"I know I shouldn't have been driving anyway," Cardoza told responding Police Officer Blaise Lalli, "It's my birthday."

On Monday, July 28, Cardoza was arraigned in Wareham District Court and pleaded not guilty to charges of operating under the influence, operating under the influence causing death, leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving with a suspended license. Cardoza is being held on a $250,000 cash bail.

Cardoza has been arrested three previous times for operating while intoxicated, once in 2013, 1999 and 1985. None of the previous charges were considered at the arraignment due to the statute of limitations. 

Members of Cardoza’s and Hansen’s family attended court on Monday. 

Hansen's father, Tim Murray, who is a lieutenant in the Mattapoisett Fire Department, said that the family wants privacy following the accident.

"We're trying to process the grief that we're going through and losing our son to a senseless tragedy that should have been avoided," Murray said.

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz, who was at Cardoza’s arraignment, criticized Massachusetts’ statute of limitations laws. 

"An individual who has allegedly killed somebody with three prior OUI's — I think that person is dangerous," he said.

Cruz emphasized the importance of dealing with repeat offenders.

"There needs to be more time for individuals who choose to get drunk or heavily influenced on alcohol, get behind the wheel and operate recklessly in that fashion," he said. "You're destroying families."

Murray said that Cardoza being a repeat offender was frustrating.

"He was out there and he obviously has no respect for the law. He had his license suspended and he was still driving. Whatever sentence is handed down I don't think he'll respect that either," Murray said. 

Cardoza's family declined to comment. 

Cardoza is scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday, Aug. 27.