Prosecutors say a man is expected to be arraigned Monday on charges of murder and animal cruelty. He is accused of running down a man and his dog with his car on Commonwealth Ave. in Boston, then fleeing the scene.

It happened Saturday around 8 a.m. at the intersection of Comm. Ave. and Hereford Street.

Comm. Ave. hit-and-run

The Boston Police Department said William Haney, 42, ran over 79-year-old John Axelrod of Boston and the dog, then drove off. 

Axelrod was rushed to an area hospital but pronounced dead. Police said the dog died as well in the crash.  

Haney later turned himself into police and was arrested. The Suffolk District Attorney's office said he is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on Monday.

Who is John Axelrod?

The Museum of Fine Arts Boston on Sunday said Sunday that Axelrod was an honorary advisor at the museum. 

The museum released a statement following Axelrod's death.

A generous supporter and passionate advocate for underrepresented artists, John had been a part of the MFA family since the 1980s. His legacy will live on at the Museum through the John Axelrod Collection—a transformative acquisition of nearly 70 works by Black artists, including Archibald Motley, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Alan Rohan Crite, Loïs Mailou Jones, and Kerry James Marshall. Additionally, John gave the MFA substantial collections of 20th-century European decorative arts, including numerous examples of Memphis Group designs, and, between 2008-2015, some 377 pieces of American Modern design from the 1920s and '30s. The John Axelrod Gallery in the Art of the Americas Wing, featuring American Modern design, was named in his honor in 2009.

Video from the area showed caution tape surrounding the green area on Commonwealth Avenue Mall between Gloucester Street and Hereford. Police could be seen taking photos of the area. 

Boston police said they found the suspect vehicle's registration information, and put out an alert to other departments to look for the car. The Brookline Police Department found the vehicle unoccupied.   

"The vehicle suspected in the incident was located in Brookline by a Brookline Officer. It was subsequently turned over to Boston Police investigators," Brookline Police said in a statement. 

Boston police said the case is still under investigation and anyone with information is urged to contact them.

Commonwealth Avenue is a popular street in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. It is well known for its green space, historical statues and holiday lighting. Back Bay is a historic neighborhood known for its historic brownstones.