Mass. man pleads not guilty to manslaughter, drunk driving after crash kills mom, 5-year-old
A 22-year-old man pleaded not guilty on Friday to multiple counts, including manslaughter while drunk driving, in connection with a May crash that killed a mother and her 5-year-old daughter .
James Blanchard, of Franklin, was arraigned in Norfolk Superior Court and ordered held on a $250,000 cash bail, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey's office wrote in a statement. Blanchard faces two counts of manslaughter while drunk driving and one count of drunk driving causing serious bodily injury, Blanchard is due back in court on Dec. 22.
The charges stem from a May 24 crash on Grove Street in Franklin. Blanchard is accused of driving in the wrong lane with his pickup truck, when he slammed into a car carrying a family of four.
The crash resulted in the death of a 5-year-old daughter and her mother, Minaben Patel, 38, of Franklin , who died in a hospital days after the incident, prosecutors said.
Patel's husband was driving the car, and their 14-year-old son was seriously injured in the incident.
Blanchard was previously arraigned in Wrentham District Court on charges including motor vehicle homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol before being indicted on manslaughter charges by a Norfolk County Grand Jury.
If Blanchard posts bail, he is prohibited from drinking alcohol and must submit to testing. He also cannot drive a vehicle while his case is pending.
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