Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
Earlier this week, a man responsible for a 2007 fatal car accident in Somerville was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in state prison, after which he has a 15-year probation on the condition that he is not allowed to operate a vehicle or does not try to reinstate his driver’s license. According to the Office of Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone, Javier Morales, 29, from Somerville, pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter, driving with a suspended license, subsequent offense, and failure to stop for a police officer.
Morales caused the accident in May 2007 by failing to pull over for State Police on Route 16, who then proceeded to pursue him through Somerville. It is reported that he was driving 76 mph without his headlights on at about 1:30 a.m. before he crashed his SUV into a taxi. The driver of the taxi was Walid Chahine, 45, of Methuen, and the passengers were Paul Farris, 23, of Medford and a woman who has remained unidentified. Both Chahine and Farris died from their injuries incurred in this accident and the woman was extensively hospitalized. She is said to still be affected by her injuries from the accident. All passengers in the taxi were wearing their seatbelts but the force and speed at which Morales was traveling caused an impact that the seatbelts could not withhold.
In a statement released by District Attorney Gerard Leone, he explained that “This defendant pleaded guilty to causing a horrific car crash that resulted in the death of two innocent men and left a third victim with life-long injuries…This defendant had numerous opportunities to stop for the police officer, yet continued to make decisions to drive unsafely at high rates of speed through densely-populated areas, endangering those around him. By pleading guilty today, this defendant is admitting to these troubling charges and will remain off the roads and out of communities for an extensive period of time.”
If you or your loved one has been injured in an accident because of a negligent driver, our experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyers are here to help with over 25 years of experience and a free consultation.
Source:
Driver In Somerville Motor Vehicle Crash Pleads Guilty To Two Counts of Manslaughter, Office of Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone Press Release, March 28, 2011
The Massachusetts car accident lawyers at Altman & Altman can advise you if you have been injured on the road.
