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‘My client's remorse exceeds any bounds of the human condition.' Franklin man arraigned in connection with fatal crash that killed mother, child
Blanchard pleaded not guilty in May to related charges, including a separate motor vehicle homicide count, in connection with the death of Patel's daughter. Bail at the time was set at $250,000.
Authorities said the most recent charge was brought after Patel's death at an area hospital.
'This is an unfathomable tragedy that has devastated two families,' Timothy R. Flaherty, a lawyer for Blanchard, said in a statement. 'My client's remorse exceeds any bounds of the human condition. My prayers, and those of my client's family, are with the Patel family.'
Blanchard was driving a pickup truck that was involved in a May 24 crash with a car carrying Patel, her husband, and their two children, while the family was on its way to a birthday celebration, officials said.
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Minaben Patel died nine days after her daughter, Krisha, officials said. Her husband and 14-year-old son survived the crash, which occurred while Blanchard allegedly had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal driving limit, records show.
'Everybody's in pain,' Kirankumar Patel, 45, of Franklin, a relative of the victims, said during a
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Hundreds of candles surrounded a memorial for Minaben and Krisha Patel, who died following a car crash last month. Photographer/Creator Rita Chandler Date updated June 05, 2025 at 10:36:34 PM (GMT-4:00)
Rita Chandler for The Boston Glo
Blanchard's next court date is slated for July 30, records show.
Material from prior Globe stories was used in this report.
Travis Andersen can be reached at
