BOSTON, May 13, 2013—A Stoughton man was held on $500,000 cash bail today at his hospital bed arraignment on charges that he crashed his car while drunk and killed his passenger, 20-year-old Evan Bard of Agawam, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Brooks of the DA’s Major Felony Bureau recommended that amount for SEAN E. JACKMAN (D.O.B. 1/18/89), arraigned at Boston Medical Center today on charges of motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence arising out of Bard’s death in Jackman’s vehicle at about 11:50 on Friday night.

Canton Police responded to the area of 230 Bolivar St. that night for a report of a single-vehicle collision. On arrival, they found Jackman’s 1995 Toyota Camry, which had suffered heavy damage and appeared to have struck a tree.

Bard was the vehicle’s front seat passenger and was pronounced dead on arrival. Jackman was barely conscious but alive. Officers could smell the odor of alcohol coming from him. The Canton Fire Department transported him to Boston Medical Center and also detected the odor of alcohol.

State Troopers assigned to the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and Crime Scene Services Section also responded to the scene to assist in the investigation.

The next day, Canton detectives met with Jackman at the hospital in an attempt to interview him. Jackman declined to answer questions and indicated that he had retained an attorney. Detectives then placed him under arrest and informed him that he would not be free to leave the hospital.

At the request of Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey, Suffolk prosecutors are handling Jackman’s case to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest. Jackman had been a 2006 summer intern at the Norfolk DA’s office and his uncle had previously been employed there.

Jackman’s case will return to Stoughton District Court on June 10. Judge Richard Savignano presided over today’s hearing.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.