‘She was just so sweet' — Franklin mourns 5-year-old, mom after fatal head-on crash

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2 days ago

Family, friends and community members gathered at a crash site Thursday to mourn the loss of a 5-year-old Franklin girl and her mother who were killed in a head-on crash for which a Franklin man faces charges.
Minaben Atulkumar Patel, 38, of Franklin, a passenger in the family car, had been hospitalized since the May 24 crash but died nine days later from her injuries, the Norfolk District Attorney's office said.
Services were held Saturday, May 31 for Patel's daughter, Krisha Atulkumar Patel, 5, who was pronounced dead at a hospital the day of the crash.
Patel's son, Kunj Atulkumar Patel, 14, who, like his mother, was hospitalized with serious injuries at UMass Memorial Medical Center, attended the June 5 vigil in Franklin.
Standing from his wheelchair, he was the first to set a rose and candle down to honor his mother and sister.
The father of the family, Atulkumar Patel — who was driving the car that was hit by a driver facing an operating under the influence charge — was treated and released at a hospital after the crash. He was not seen at the vigil.
Flowers, teddy bears, photos and candles were placed around two white crosses that have been placed at the vigil site on Grove Street. There were also two large photos honoring the mother and daughter.
Many close family members and friends paid their respects to the family, saying silent prayers as they held candlesticks. Some took off their shoes before standing in front of the memorial.
The more than 40 people in attendance gathered in a circle around the memorial, saying and singing prayers.
Susan D'Amelio of Franklin, an acquaintance of the family, recalled a time she ran into Minaben and Krisha Patel, and remembered thinking that Krisha looked like a princess.
'She (Krisha) was just so sweet,' D'Amelio said.
As D'Amelio went to pay her respects at the memorial, a butterfly could be seen floating past her. She said that ever since the crash, she has been seeing butterflies on and off.
The driver, James Blanchard, 21, also a Franklin resident, faces several charges, including motor vehicle homicide and operating under the influence.
He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment May 27 in Wrentham District Court and was being held on $250,000 bail.
Blanchard was operating a pickup truck that crossed the center line and hit the family's car head-on, officials said.
They said Blanchard had multiple containers of alcohol in his vehicle and his alcohol level was more than two times the legal driving limit.
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