Individuals that witnessed one of the deadliest crashes in New Hampshire history took the stand on Tuesday. Volodymyr Zhukovskyy has been charged with 23 felonies after a crash that killed seven motorcyclists in June 2019. More than 100 witnesses could be called throughout the trial.
Zhukovskyy has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of negligent homicide, manslaughter, reckless conduct, and driving under the influence.
In this trial, prosecutors explained to the jury that the “swerving testimony” is critical because the defense is arguing that one of the motorcycles swerved and caused the accident.
Many of the witnesses testified that they saw a truck weaving in and out of the double yellow line on Route 2 that day. Anne Baron, a witness from Maine, explained that her husband was driving that day and notified her of the truck swerving across the road. He explained that he saw the entire truck cross the double yellow line for the second time.
Michael McEachern also testified in the trial about what he witnessed at the time of the accident. He explained that he saw the truck traveling westbound, pulling a flatbed trailer. He saw the truck hit some of the riders that had just left a meeting at a motel. McEachern stated that he tried to help them, but he realized some had died so he decided to cover them up.
McEachern saw two people stuck under the truck’s front bumper, one under the trailer, one slumped over the bushes, and another was ejected from his bike and found in the woods.
The truck then burst into flames. McEachern testified that he kept trying to keep Zhukovskyy away from the flames, but he repeatedly ran back to his truck to grab his items. When asked what happened, Zhukovskyy stated that he lost control of his trailer.
Prosecutors stated that Zhukovskyy had taken drugs earlier that day, but his lawyers denied that he was impaired. They stated that the president of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, Albert Mazza, was impaired and lost control of his motorcycle, hitting Zhukovskyy’s truck first.
The motorcyclists who died were Albert Mazza, Edward and Jo-Ann Corr, Michael Ferazzi, Desma Oakes, Daniel Pereira, and Aaron Perry.
Several other motorcyclists were injured.
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Resources
Coveno, A. (2022, July 26). Witnesses describe scene of crash that killed 7 motorcyclists as trial begins. WMUR 9. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://www.wmur.com/article/randolph-new-hampshire-motorcycle-crash-trial-726/40717486
Kathy McCormack, The Associated Press. (2022, July 27). Truck plowed through “like a bowling ball” in crash that killed seven and injured Dalton man. The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://www.berkshireeagle.com/crime/trial-trucker-biker-crash-new-hampshire/article_09bab5e4-0de1-11ed-b6a5-2379d1669f27.html