Crime & Safety

Driver Arrested After Killing 7 Motorcyclists In NH: AG

Volodoymyr Zhukovskyy, 23, of Massachusetts, was charged with negligent homicide after hitting 10 motorcyclists in Randolph, New Hampshire.

Authorities at the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash in Randolph, New Hampshire, June 21, 2019.
Authorities at the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash in Randolph, New Hampshire, June 21, 2019. (Peter Knudson/NTSB via AP)

CONCORD, NH — A Massachusetts man on Monday was charged with negligent homicide after authorities said he crashed into a group of 10 motorcyclists in New Hampshire, killing seven. Volodoymyr Zhukovskyy, 23, of West Springfield, was arrested at his residence, N.H. Deputy Attorney General Jane Young announced. Young did not comment on exactly what kind of negligent behavior Zhukovskyy was accused of.

"The investigation into this matter continues to be active and ongoing," Young said in a statement.

Massachusetts State Police said officers seized wax packets from Zhukovskyy's home that they believed contain heroin. Zhukovskyy has not been charged with any drug-related crimes in connection with the crash. In 2013, he was charged with driving under the influence, according to CBS Boston

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"The residue will be tested at the (state police) lab and if positive for an illegal narcotic, ZHUKOVSKY will be charged additionally," Massachusetts State Police said in a statement.

Among the dead from Friday's crash were a Massachusetts couple, a Concord, N.H., woman, three men from across the Granite State, and a Rhode Island man.

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Zhukovskyy called the crash a "big tragedy," according to WMUR.

"I'm trying to process this with my family," Zhukovskyy told WMUR. "I'm feeling shocked, it happened so fast."

Authorities identified the crash victims as Michael Ferazzi, 62, of Contoocook, New Hampshire; Albert Mazza Jr., 49, of Lee, New Hampshire; Desma Oakes, 42, of Concord, New Hampshire; Aaron Perry, 45, of Farmington, New Hampshire; Daniel Pereira, 58, of Riverside, Rhode Island; and Joanne and Edward Corr, both 58, of Lakeville, Massachusetts.

Witnesses recalled a horrific crash scene.

"There was debris everywhere," said Miranda Thompson, 21, of Manchester. "People were in the grass. There were people putting tourniquets on people, trying to make sure they didn't move."

Zhukovskyy's pickup truck caught fire after the crash.

"It was so devastating to see the bodies on the road," Jerry Hamanne, another witness, said. "My God, I don't want to see something like this again."

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The seven people who died after a crash in Randolph on June 21, 2019. (New Hampshire Attorney General's Office)

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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