Vermont Police Officer Charged After Fatal Crash While YouTube Video Played in Cruiser

Sergeant Kyle Kapitanski is accused of gross negligence in the death of cyclist Sean Hayes, with investigators citing evidence of a YouTube video playing at the time of the collision.

Kyle Kapitanski, a Shelburne Police Department sergeant, was charged with grossly negligent operation with death resulting after striking cyclist Sean Hayes in November 2024.
Investigators found that a YouTube video titled 'Trans woman CONFRONTING Matt Walsh takes UNEXPECTED turn' was playing on Kapitanski's department-issued tablet at the time of the crash.
Body camera footage revealed Kapitanski switching the tablet screen from YouTube to a dispatch system after the collision, though no user interaction with the video was detected during the incident.
Kapitanski was reportedly driving five miles per hour over the speed limit, and a crash reconstruction report concluded the accident could likely have been avoided if he had adhered to the speed limit.
The 38-year-old victim, Sean Hayes, had dismounted his bicycle and was standing near the curb when he was struck; Kapitanski is scheduled for arraignment on Thursday.