A Vermont police officer faces charges after allegedly striking and killing a cyclist while speeding and watching YouTube in his cruiser.
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Shelburne Police Sgt. Kyle Kapitanski, 41, hit cyclist Sean Hayes, 38, on November 11, 2024, authorities say, via the Daily Mail. Prosecutors claim Kapitanski was distracted by a video featuring right-wing influencer Matt Walsh when the fatal crash occurred.
Disturbing footage, first aired by WCAX, shows Hayes preparing his bike on Shelburne Road when a speeding vehicle mowed him down at 2:40 a.m. Investigators allege Kapitanski's bodycam captured him playing the YouTube video on his in-cruiser tablet moments before the collision.
After the crash, detectives say Kapitanski's hand appeared on the bodycam footage, switching the tablet screen to a police program called Valcour.
Kapitanski faces arraignment Thursday on charges of gross negligent operation resulting in death. If convicted, he could serve up to 15 years in prison. The crash reconstruction report states that the officer drove 40 mph in a 35-mph zone. It concludes the collision likely could have been avoided at the speed limit. Investigators noted a delay in brake activation, with the cruiser traveling 85 feet post-impact.
State Police Investigating
Hayes, a father of two, died at the scene. Surveillance video shows him lifting his bike off the ground just before the crash. Kapitanski told a South Burlington firefighter that Hayes "came out of nowhere." Police say Hayes wore dark clothing, and his bike and trailer lacked reflective material or lights. Still, the community rallied around Hayes, with a GoFundMe praising his "life, laughter, and kindness."
Outrage grew in South Burlington when charges weren't initially filed. Vermont State Police investigated last month, issuing Kapitanski only a citation. Now, the felony charge has reignited local debate. Kapitanski visited a convenience store five minutes before the crash, news reports say. His tablet accessed multiple YouTube links between 2:29 a.m. and 2:40 a.m., including a final video titled "Trans woman CONFRONTING Matt Walsh takes UNEXPECTED turn."
Defense attorney David Sleigh disputes the allegations. He argues Kapitanski hadn't interacted with the video since before the store stop.
"The affidavit says Kyle was going maybe 5 miles over the speed limit," Sleigh told WCAX. "Their IT guy says there's no evidence he touched the computer in the 11 minutes that matter." Sleigh contends the case lacks proof of distraction and suggests a misdemeanor charge at most.
Immediately after the crash, Kapitanski radioed dispatch, reporting he hit "possibly a person." Neither his bodycam nor dashcam recorded the collision itself, police say. However, post-crash footage captured the tablet's YouTube screen before Kapitanski switched it.
The Shelburne Police Department has placed Kapitanski on leave. Hayes' death has left his two young daughters without a father, prompting an outpouring of tributes. The GoFundMe emphasizes his vibrant spirit, cut short at 38. As the case heads to court, investigators maintain Kapitanski's actions were reckless, while his defense pushes back against the felony charge's foundation.
