Latest news with #motorvehiclehomicide
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Mass. man pleads guilty to killing man while driving 120 mph in I-93 race, sentenced to prison
A Roslindale man will go to prison for the death of another man while racing on Interstate 93 in Braintree in 2023, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey's office said Thursday. Hedweens Quetant, 21, was sentenced to three to five years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, racing a motor vehicle and witness intimidation. 'This senseless tragedy and unfathomable loss continues to affect not only the victim's family and extended family, but also his co-workers and friends,' Morrissey said in a statement from his office. Quetant's sentence stemmed from an incident on Feb. 19, 2023, that led to the death of Michael Wojdag, 46, of Hanson, following a crash. On that day, witnesses told Massachusetts State Police that a 2019 Honda Civic had crashed into a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe while on the northbound side of I-93 near Exit 6 in Braintree, Morrissey's office said. Quetant drove the Honda, Wojdag drove the Chevrolet. Quetant drove with his headlights off while driving at 120 mph, racing another car before he hit Wojdag's SUV, Morrissey's office said. The other driver who raced Quetant drove off and was never found by Massachusetts State Police, the statement read. The driver of the other vehicle who was racing Quetant fled the scene. Despite the extensive efforts of the Massachusetts State Police, neither the driver nor the vehicle was found. Judge Michael Doolin also sentenced Quetant to concurrent jail terms for reckless operation of a motor vehicle and racing a motor vehicle, Morrissey's office said. Once Quetant finishes his prison sentence, he will be on probation for three years. Along with a 15-year loss of a driver's license carried by the manslaughter conviction, Quetant was ordered to stay away from Wojdag's family and not make contact with them. Tractor-trailer crash on I-90 in Charlton slowed traffic for hours Thursday morning Route 2 west in Westminster down to breakdown lane due to rollover crash Five Western Mass. teens arrested after stolen car crashes with two others on I-91 Read the original article on MassLive.
CBS News
24-06-2025
- CBS News
Man charged in Franklin crash faces second count of motor vehicle homicide
The man accused of causing the death of a 5-year-old in an alleged drunken driving crash in Franklin is now charged with killing the girl's mother. Second count of motor vehicle homicide James Blanchard, 21, of Franklin, was arraigned Tuesday in Wrentham District Court on an additional count of motor vehicle homicide for the death of Minaben Patel, 38, of Franklin, who was also a passenger in the car that Blanchard hit. Minaben Patel, her daughter, 5-year-old Krisha Patel, her husband and son were driving on Grove Street in Franklin on May 24 to celebrate the boy's birthday when a pickup truck driven by Blanchard hit them. Police said Blanchard was drunk at the time of the accident. Minaben and Krisha Patel Courtesy photo Mother and daughter killed in crash Krisha Patel was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Ten days later, Minaben Patel died from her injuries. The father, who was driving the car, was treated and released. The boy was hospitalized with critical injuries. Prosecutor Christopher Meade said Blanchard had two bottles of vodka in the truck and was drinking from one of them before the crash. He was arrested and, according to police, had a blood alcohol level of 0.189. The legal limit in Massachusetts is 0.08. Blanchard was arraigned on May 27 on motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently under the influence of alcohol and other charges related to the death of Krisha Patel. He has pleaded not guilty to both counts of motor vehicle homicide.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Holliston MA man pleads not guilty to charge linked to fatal crash. What's next
A Holliston man pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, June 17, in Framingham District Court to charges he faces regarding a fatal crash last year. Paul Mangan, 73, was arraigned Tuesday on one count of motor vehicle homicide by negligence. Judge Mary Phillips released him without bail, but ordered him not to drive without a valid license. Mangan is charged in connection with a July 21, 2024, crash in Holliston that killed Andrew Palumbo, 62, of Ashland. In a press release at the time of the crash, Holliston Police said Palumbo was riding a motorcycle when he was struck by a car at 7:48 p.m. at the intersection of Mill and Prentice streets. Earlier: Holliston man charged in connection with crash that killed motorcyclist The driver, who was later identified as Mangan, remained at the scene. Mangan was summoned to court after an investigation by the Holliston Police, Massachusetts State Police and the Middlesex District Attorney's Office. He is due back in court on Aug. 7 for a pretrial conference. Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@ For up-to-date public safety news, follow Norman Miller on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Man connected to fatal Holliston crash pleads not guilty in court
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘It's just such a tragedy': Franklin community mourns loss of young girl after OUI crash
A memorial of flowers and stuffed animals is growing on Grove Street after a little girl was killed in a crash Saturday night. 'It's just such a tragedy,' Franklin Town Council Chairman Tom Mercer said. 'The devastation is being felt across the entire community.' According to the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, a pickup truck driven by 21-year-old James Blanchard collided with the family's car shortly after 6:20 p.m. Saturday. The father of the young girl, who was driving the car at the time, has since been released from the hospital. The two other passengers of the car, the mother and son, are in the hospital with serious injuries. The crash happened in front of Smilage Dental Center, where Sylvia Sham works. 'I was getting ready to close up and leave and then I heard it,' Sham explained. She ran outside to a harrowing scene and dialed 911 while other bystanders quickly started to help. 'There was someone, I believe he was a doctor, he came and helped the best he could,' Sham said. 'There was a lot going on everyone was kind of gravitating to where they needed to be.' Since then, Mercer said his phone has been ringing off the hook from residents wanting to help the family, who has not yet been identified. 'Our hearts and thoughts and prayers go out to the families involved, such a tragic accident for sure,' Mercer said. The Norfolk DA said Blanchard is facing a list of charges including motor vehicle homicide and drunk driving. Blanchard is due in court Tuesday. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
CBS News
25-05-2025
- CBS News
Girl killed in crash in Franklin as driver faces several charges, including OUI
A girl is dead and two of her family members were seriously hurt after a car crash in Franklin, Massachusetts Saturday night and the driver of the other car is facing charges, including drunk driving. It happened on Grove Street shortly before 6:30 p.m. Saturday when a car collided with a pickup truck. The girl was taken to the hospital, where she later died. Her brother and mother remain hospitalized with serious injuries and her father, who was driving, was treated at the hospital and released. None of the victims' identities have been released. The driver of the pickup truck, identified as 21-year-old James Blanchard of Franklin, was arrested. He faces several charges, including three counts of OUI, motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently and under the influence of alcohol and operating a motor vehicle with an open container of alcohol. He's being held on $500,000 bail and is set to be arraigned in Wrentham District Court on Tuesday.
