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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Massachusetts double tragedy as girl, 5, and her 38-year-old mom die after horrific drunk driver crash
A five-year-old girl and her mother have died after a motorist who had allegedly been drinking straight vodka ploughed into their vehicle in Massachusetts. Minaben Patel, 38, and her daughter, Krisha, succumbed to their injuries after police say drunk driver James Blanchard, 21, struck their Honda Accord with his pickup truck on Memorial Day weekend. They were flung from their car due to the impact, prosecutors said. Patel's son, Kunj, and her husband, Atulkumar, were also in the vehicle but survived. The horror unfolded just after 6.20pm on May 24, which was part of the federal holiday weekend, and Kunj's fourteenth birthday. Prosecutors said Blanchard opened a 1.75 liter bottle of Tito's vodka and began drinking straight out of the bottle shortly before the crash. Investigators also found a second 1.75 liter bottle of Tito's vodka in his vehicle. Blanchard, a landscaper and mechanic, told police he had two beers while at a job in Plainville that morning, and said the vodka bottles were 'from the night before'. He appeared in court on May 27 handcuffed while sporting long hair and a beard. Blanchard watched intently from the defendant's box as lawyers outlined the case. Prosecutor Christopher Meade described the scene of the crash, which unfolded on Grove Street in Franklin, around 30 miles south-west of Boston. He said police officers who were called to the street saw a pickup truck in the middle of the road, and the Patel family's Honda 'off to the side of the road'. Meade said Minaben and Krisha were on the ground suffering horrific injuries after appearing to have been flung from their vehicle. Officers performed CPR. Atulkumar, who had been driving, was trapped inside the car with his son Kung. The Patel family were rushed to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester for treatment. Krisha died that night. Blanchard was found 'with a small amount of blood on his nose', Meade said. 'His eyes were bloodshot and glassy,' he added. Officers noted that he 'didn't remember much' and 'had slurred speech', while attempting to direct his face away from officers so they could not smell the alcohol. His blood alcohol level came back .19, Meade said, more than twice the legal limit for driving in Massachusetts. Blanchard said he tried to swerve to avoid the Honda during interviews with police the day after the collision. Horrific images from the scene show the front of his pickup truck was crumpled by the impact, while the Patel family's car was smashed in on one side. Blanchard has been charged with motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently and under the influence of alcohol, three counts of operating under the influence of alcohol and causing serious bodily injury. He is also accused of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with an open container of alcohol, and a marked lanes violation. 'Krishna's kind spirit, big smile and loving heart will be deeply missed,' a flyer for her memorial service reads.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Drunk driving crash in Franklin kills mother and young girl
FRANKLIN, Mass. (WWLP) – The mother of the young girl who was killed in an alleged drunk driving crash last week has also died. Chicopee woman charged with arson following Belcher Street fire The Memorial Day weekend crash in Franklin killed five-year-old Krisha Patel and badly injured her mother and brother. Police say 21-year-old James Blanchard caused the crash pleaded not guilty to charges of motor vehicle homicide, drunken driving, and negligent operation. The death of the mother, 38-year-old Minaben Patel, was announced Tuesday, according to NBC Boston. There was no update on the condition of Patel's son, Krisha's brother, on Tuesday. The father, who was driving, was also hurt but was released from the hospital after treatment. Prosecutors say the family was on their way to the son's birthday party at the time of the crash. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Mother of 5-year-old girl killed in Franklin car crash succumbs to injuries
The mother of a young girl killed in a Franklin car crash last month has also died, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrisey announced Tuesday. Crash claims second victim Minaben Patel, 38, of Franklin, was driving with her husband, son and daughter on Memorial Day weekend when they were hit by a driver who was allegedly drunk. Police said James Blanchard, 21, of Franklin was driving in the opposite lane of traffic when his pickup truck collided with a Honda Accord on Grove Street just before 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 24. Five-year-old Krisha Patel was also killed in the crash. Krisha's father and brother were also in the car at the time of the crash. The family was on its way to celebrate the boy's birthday. The father, who was driving the car, was treated and released. The boy was hospitalized with critical injuries. There is no update on his condition. Driver pleads not guilty 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 ordered held on $250,000. He pleaded not guilty to motor vehicle homicide, drunk driving and several other charges. The family will host a service of remembrance for Minaben Patel on June 5. "The Norfolk District Attorney's Office and the Franklin Police Department are saddened by the loss to Minaben's family and we extend our heartfelt condolences," District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey and Franklin Police Chief Thomas J. Lynch said in a prepared statement.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vigil for 5-year-old Massachusetts girl killed by drunk driver crash
FRANKLIN, Mass. (WWLP) – A vigil was held in Franklin on Wednesday for a five-year-old girl killed in a deadly crash. Family of man missing in Connecticut River receive community support as search continues Krisha Patel died after being airlifted to a hospital when her family car was hit by an alleged drunk driver on Saturday. Her mother is still in critical condition, and her brother is also recovering in the hospital but is expected to pull through. The driver, 21-year-old James Blanchard, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to drunk driving and homicide charges. Relatives say the family was on the way to the brother's birthday party when they were hit. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Suspected drunk driver pleads not guilty in Franklin crash that killed 5-year-old
FRANKLIN, Mass. (WPRI) — A Franklin man is being held on bail after he allegedly drove under the influence and caused a crash that killed a child Saturday night. James Blanchard, 21, was arraigned Tuesday on multiple charges in connection with the crash that killed a 5-year-old girl and seriously injured two of her family members. BACKGROUND: Man accused of OUI in Franklin crash that killed child, injured 2 Prosecutors said he had open containers of alcohol in the car and a blood-alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit. Blanchard faces the following charges: Motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently and under the influence of alcohol Operating under the influence of alcohol and causing serious bodily injury (three counts) Negligent operation of a motor vehicle Operating a motor vehicle with an open container of alcohol Marked lanes violation A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf, and he was ordered held on $250,000 bail. Officials said the girl's father has since been released from the hospital, while her mother and brother remain hospitalized with serious injuries. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
