Rockland Man Killed in Sunday Crash in Norwell

This past weekend has been especially deadly for drivers in Massachusetts - four people, all in their 20s, were killed in separate motor vehicle accidents on Saturday.

This time we are reporting on the death of a Rockland man who was killed in a Norwell car crash a few hours later, in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 18.

The victim – a 21-year-old man, a passenger of a drunken driver.

According to news reports covering the fatal crash, Karl Mueller, 21, was found in the passenger seat of a Hyundai Elantra driven by Daniel Heywood, 21, of Hanover who was arrested for drunk driving after the accident.

Mueller was fatally injured in the crash and emergency crews transported him to South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, where he was pronounced dead.

Heywood was also injured in the crash, and was transported to a hospital, but first he was arrested at the scene.

Heywood’s charges include:

• operating under the influence of alcohol (OUI),
• reckless operation of a motor vehicle,
• marked lanes violation,
• speeding,
• manslaughter by motor vehicle,
• motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation.

Norwell Police arrived at the scene and found extensive front-end damage to the car, which had hit a tree and was facing south in a northbound lane at the intersection of High Street and Oak Street in Norwell.

Police who talked to Heywood said that the two men were going towards Route 53 on their way to a convenience store, but Heywood allegedly changed his mind, and as he was trying to turn around, Mueller grabbed the wheel.

They had been in Boston earlier (on Saturday night), and were returning to the South Shore. It was not clear if the two men were wearing their seatbelts.

Police said Heywood was arrested since he demonstrated signs of being under the influence of alcohol. If convicted, Heywood could face a prison term of 5 to 20 years for motor vehicle homicide. In addition, he could lose his driver’s license for 15 years.

This tragic accident further emphasizes the importance of abstaining from drinking before driving, since it endangers more lives than one. We are sincerely sorry for the death of such a young person, and we offer our sincerest sympathies to the family of Karl Mueller.

Both Heywood and Mueller attended Hanover High School, and graduated in 2007.

Karl Mueller is remembered as person that always had a smile on his face.