A New York man is slated to face the judge this week, slapped with new charges after a December crash that claimed the lives of three family members in Massachusetts. Adam M. Gauthier, 41, allegedly driving in a drunken stupor, collided head-on with another vehicle on Christmas night, resulting in the tragic incident on the Somerset side of the Veteran's Memorial Bridge, authorities said.
Already charged with manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide while under the influence, and operating under the influence, Gauthier was driving the wrong way when he struck the car carrying Donna Arruda, 68, her husband Floriano Arruda, 73, and their grandson, Jacoby Arruda, 15. While the husband and grandson died at the scene of the accident, Donna succumbed to her injuries days later at Rhode Island Hospital, as revealed by NBC Boston.
According to the Bristol County District Attorney's office, as reported by the Boston Globe, Gauthier, who originally faced charges from his hospital bed, will now be arraigned on additional charges of manslaughter and OUI in connection with Donna Arruda's recent death. The couple and their grandchild hailed from Seekonk.
The court ordered Gauthier held on $100,000 cash bail, and up to this point, it remains unclear whether he has obtained legal representation for the impending charges. The authorities mentioned Gauthier's injuries from the crash were not life-threatening, and he is now expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Fall River District Court, now compounded by two fresh counts of manslaughter and OUI.
