HopNews
Hopkinton Driver Accused
Arun Kumar Vellanki faces one charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle after striking a five-year-old boy riding his bike on a sidewalk in Hopkinton. His bench trial is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 1 of Framingham District Court. A judge, not a jury, will decide the case.
>> RELATED: Follow Up on 5-Year-Old Hit by Hopkinton Driver
What Happened
On Sept. 30, 2025, a white Tesla backed out of a driveway and struck a 5-year-old boy riding his bike on the sidewalk. The driver was Arun Vellanki, a neighbor. The boy suffered a deep cut to his face. (He is scheduled for plastic surgery in December.)
A neighbor’s Nest doorbell camera recorded the crash. The boy’s family gave the video to Hopkinton Police on Oct. 5, 2025. Police issued a citation that same day. Vellanki pleaded not guilty at his January 23, 2026 arraignment. A court magistrate dismissed a separate felony charge in December 2025.
Motion to Dismiss Denied
In March 2026, Vellanki’s attorney, Alan J. Pransky, asked the court to dismiss the case. He argued the citation came too late (it was not issued on the date of the accident). Massachusetts has a “no-fix” law. It generally requires police to issue a traffic citation at the time and place of the violation, with exceptions when more time is reasonably needed.
The defense noted that the officer twice found no grounds for charges before issuing the citation. The prosecution said the investigation was ongoing. Hopkinton’s Sergeant Ekross received new information five days after the incident. First from the child and then from the video. Ekross mailed the citation the same day he saw the video. Judge David W. Cunis heard arguments on May 27, 2026, and took the motion under advisement. The court denied the motion on June 24, 2026.
Motion to Suppress Video Denied
The defense also asked the court to throw out the doorbell video. It argued the camera recorded Vellanki’s voice without his consent, violating the state wiretap law. The prosecution pointed to two decisions by the state’s highest court, Commonwealth v. Santoro and Commonwealth v. Rivera. In Rivera, the court found that police could use a store security recording because police “had no part in making” it.
The court denied the motion to suppress on June 24, 2026. Before the ruling, prosecutors agreed not to use one of three videos. The judge said the court would address questions about a third video, which shows children talking after the crash, at trial.
Medical Records
The court also approved prosecution requests for records from the Hopkinton Fire Department and UMass Memorial Medical Center. At the May 27, 2026 hearing, the defense did not object.
What Comes Next
The bench trial is open to the public on October 6, 2026 at 9am, in Framingham District Court.
Video the Defense Wanted to Suppress
A neighbor’s Nest doorbell footage shows the Tesla reversing out of the driveway and striking the child. At the end of the video, Vellanki can be heard telling the child, “You did this; you hit that car!”
What good can be gained by posting that video? I thought HopNews was shutting down, I guess they can’t resist more click bait at the expense of others. Stay Classy HopNews!
WOW! The man wasn’t concerned about injuring the child. He only cared about his car.
The child needed help not a scolding!