A driver who struck two Bridgewater State University students during Homecoming weekend is charged with two counts of attempted murder, after university officials said video shows he steered toward them on purpose. He was taken for a psychiatric evaluation after his arrest and was expected to be arraigned Monday, October 5, 2026.
Here is what has been reported, what each charge means under Massachusetts law, and why the psychiatric evaluation could shape the case from its first day in court.
What happened
On the morning of Saturday, October 3, 2026, a car struck two students on Burrill Avenue near the Moakley Center on the Bridgewater campus, according to NBC10 Boston and New Bedford Guide. One student was seriously injured and remained hospitalized; university President Frederick W. Clark Jr. said the university was “optimistic about her recovery.” The second student had minor injuries.
Campus police arrested the driver at the scene. NBC10 reported the university identified him as Steven Mayle, 44, of Weymouth, and said he has no connection to the university. Officials said video shows him intentionally driving toward the students, but that there is “absolutely no evidence” he was targeting those particular students, New Bedford Guide reported. Both outlets reported he had been involved in an earlier road rage incident in East Bridgewater; details of that incident have not been made public.
The charges, as reported: two counts of attempted murder, two counts of reckless operation of a motor vehicle, one count of leaving the scene of personal injury, and a marked lanes violation. Campus police are leading the investigation, with Bridgewater police assisting on crash reconstruction. He has not been convicted of anything and is presumed innocent. We had not seen a report of the arraignment outcome when this was published.
“Attempted murder” in Massachusetts is really two different crimes
News reports use “attempted murder” as one label. The General Laws split it in two, and which one is charged depends on how the harm was done.
- Assault with intent to murder, G.L. c. 265, § 15. “Whoever assaults another with intent to commit murder” faces up to 10 years in state prison. When the attempt is made through an assault, including driving a car into a person, this is the usual statute.
- Attempt to murder, G.L. c. 265, § 16. This covers attempts “by poisoning, drowning or strangling another person, or by any means not constituting an assault with intent to commit murder,” with up to 20 years.
We have not seen the criminal complaint, so we do not know which section the “attempted murder” counts cite. Either way, the central question is the same: intent to kill. Reckless or even outrageous driving is not enough. Prosecutors must prove the driver specifically intended to cause death. That is why the reported video, and the officials’ statement that he steered toward the students, matter so much. It is also why the separate reckless operation counts exist: they require only reckless conduct, not intent, and give a jury a lesser path if it doubts the intent to kill.
Prosecutors in cases like this often add or substitute assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, because Massachusetts courts treat a car used as a weapon as a dangerous weapon. Whether that charge is added is up to the Plymouth District Attorney.
Leaving the scene and the motor vehicle counts
Leaving the scene of personal injury is a crime under G.L. c. 90, § 24, which requires a driver who knowingly causes injury to a person to stop and make known his name, residence and registration number. Reckless operation is in the same section. The marked lanes violation is a civil infraction. In a case built around intent, these counts matter less for their penalties than as fallback charges if the attempted murder counts fail.
Why the psychiatric evaluation matters
He was taken for a psychiatric evaluation after his arrest, according to both outlets. That can lead to a formal court-ordered evaluation under G.L. c. 123, § 15. A judge who “doubts whether a defendant in a criminal case is competent to stand trial or is criminally responsible by reason of mental illness” may order an examination by a qualified physician or psychologist, often at the courthouse on the day of arraignment. If more observation is needed, a man who appears to require strict security can be committed to Bridgewater State Hospital for up to 20 days, extendable to 40.
Those are two different questions:
- Competency asks whether he can understand the proceedings and help his lawyer now. If not, the case is paused until he can.
- Criminal responsibility asks whether, at the time of the crash, mental illness left him without substantial capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform it to the law. That is the defense at the center of the Lindsay Clancy case, and it is decided at trial, not at arraignment.
Can he be held without bail?
Possibly. Under G.L. c. 276, § 58A, the Commonwealth may ask for a dangerousness hearing for a felony “that has as an element of the offense the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against the person of another.” Assault with intent to murder qualifies. If a judge finds by clear and convincing evidence that no conditions of release would reasonably assure the safety of others, the defendant can be held for up to 120 days pending trial in District Court, or 180 days in Superior Court. The Commonwealth can also seek bail. Because attempted murder charges carry more than the District Court’s sentencing power, a case like this is often indicted and moved to Superior Court.
Frequently asked questions
What happened at Bridgewater State during Homecoming 2026?
On October 3, 2026, a car struck two students on Burrill Avenue near the Moakley Center. One was hospitalized with serious injuries; the other had minor injuries. Officials said video shows the driver steered toward them intentionally.
Who is the driver charged in the Bridgewater State crash?
NBC10 Boston reported the university identified him as Steven Mayle, 44, of Weymouth. He is charged with two counts of attempted murder and motor vehicle offenses and is presumed innocent.
What is the penalty for attempted murder in Massachusetts?
Assault with intent to murder under G.L. c. 265, section 15 carries up to 10 years in state prison. Attempt to murder by other means under section 16 carries up to 20 years.
Can you be charged with attempted murder for hitting someone with a car?
Yes, if prosecutors can prove you specifically intended to kill. Without that intent, the usual charges are reckless operation or assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Sources: NBC10 Boston and New Bedford Guide, October 2026. G.L. c. 265, sections 15 and 16; c. 123, section 15; and c. 276, section 58A read at malegislature.gov. We have not seen the criminal complaint. The defendant is presumed innocent. General information about Massachusetts law, not legal advice.