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Massachusetts truck driver involved in fatal crash that killed 7 wants license back

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Massachusetts truck driver involved in fatal crash that killed 7 wants license back

A commercial truck driver from Ukraine who faces a deportation order is trying to get his driving privileges back now that he’s been acquitted of causing the deaths of seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire.

“I would like to request a hearing to get my license back,” Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 28, wrote to the New Hampshire Department of Safety in September, according to records obtained by The Associated Press under the state’s open records law.

Zhukovskyy awaits a state administrative hearing on the license request as he deals with an unresolved drunken driving charge in Connecticut, where he was arrested a month before the crash in New Hampshire. He rejected a plea deal in that case Thursday, according to court records.

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The 2022 manslaughter acquittal drew strong comments from Gov. Chris Sununu, who said the seven bikers “did not receive justice,” and from Attorney General John Formella, who said he believed the state proved its case.

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Volodymyr Zhukovskyy looks back at the gallery before closing statements started at his trial at Coos County Superior Court in Lancaster, N.H., on Aug. 9, 2022. Zhukovskyy, who was ordered deported, is trying to get his driving privileges back now that he’s been acquitted of causing the deaths of seven motorcyclists in a 2019 crash. (David Lane/Union Leader via AP, Pool, File)

Prosecutors argued that Zhukovskyy — who had taken heroin, fentanyl and cocaine on the day of the crash — repeatedly swerved back and forth before the collision and told police he caused it. But a judge dismissed eight impairment charges and his attorneys said the lead biker was drunk and not looking where he was going when he lost control of his motorcycle and slid in front of Zhukovskyy’s truck.

The jury found him not guilty of multiple manslaughter and negligent homicide counts stemming from the June 21, 2019, collision in Randolph, New Hampshire. The crash killed seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, an organization of Marine Corps veterans and their spouses in New England.

Zhukovskyy’s license was suspended automatically following his arrest, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained him after the verdict, citing previous convictions of drug possession, driving with a suspended license, furnishing false information and larceny. Zhukovskyy was taken from a New Hampshire county jail to a federal detention facility in Pennsylvania.

Zhukovskyy’s immigration attorney asked for asylum for his client, who came to the U.S. from Ukraine when he was 10 years old and had permanent residency status. A judge ordered Zhukovskyy’s deportation last February and there is no record of an appeal in the case, according to the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

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But it’s unclear under how he could be sent to a country at war with Russia. The U.S. has paused repatriation flights to Ukraine and authorized Temporary Protected Status for qualified Ukrainians. Details of the judge’s decision have not been made public.

Zhukovskyy was released from the Pennsylvania facility in April under an order of supervision, according to detention and immigration officials. That type of order allows immigrants to live and work in the U.S., so long as they meet regularly with ICE representatives and agree to follow specific conditions.

Zhukovskyy, who has pleaded not guilty to Connecticut charge, has not responded to requests from The Associated Press for an interview.

The administrative hearing on his driving privileges has been postponed at least twice. Restoration would depend largely on whether Zhukovskyy “materially contributed” to the crash, said Earle Wingate, the lawyer representing him. He said he wanted Zhukovskyy to appear in person, but the prosecutor was granted a request for Zhukovskyy to appear by video, citing safety concerns.

MASSACHUSETTS TRUCK DRIVER WHOSE CRASH KILLED 7 MOTORCYCLISTS APPEARS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TRIAL

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“The motor vehicle crash has been high-profile and has affected an inordinate number of family and friends of the victims and stands to reason to be at the root of elevated emotions for all,” prosecutor Stephen Kace said in his motion.

Wingate agreed that “the emotions could run high,” but noted that security was maintained during Zhukovskyy’s trial.

Motorcyclists from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island died in the 2019 crash.

At the time of the crash, Zhukovskyy’s commercial driving license, issued in Massachusetts, should have been revoked after his arrest in Connecticut.

Connecticut officials alerted the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, but Zhukovskyy’s license wasn’t suspended due to a backlog of out-of-state notifications about driving offenses. In a review, federal investigators found similar backlog problems in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and at least six other jurisdictions.

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Connecticut

Bridgeport firefighter is dead after Stratford shooting

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Bridgeport firefighter is dead after Stratford shooting


A Bridgeport firefighter is dead after a homicide in Stratford, according to officials.

At approximately 1:44 a.m., the Stratford Police Department responded to a report of a shooting on Feeley Street.

Upon arrival, officers found a male bleeding heavily from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene shortly after by paramedics.

The firefighter was identified as 41-year-old Terrence Cramer of Bridgeport.

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Cramer was an active-duty Bridgeport Firefighter for the last 9.5 years.

“Chief Edwards and the Bridgeport Fire Department are aware of the passing of Bridgeport Firefighter Terrence Cramer. We send our heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of Terrence,” said Bridgeport Public Information Officer Shawnna White.

After a brief motor vehicle pursuit, 41-year-old Jabari Bush was taken into custody in Derby at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, a felony arrest warrant for the murder of Terrence Cramer was charged to Bush.

Bush is charged with Murder, Home Invasion and Criminal Possession of a Firearm.

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He is being held on a $2 million court set bond. His court date is issued for March 30, 2026.

The Stratford Police Department was assisted by the New Haven Police Department, the Seymour Police Department, the Shelton Police Department, the Derby Police Department and the Connecticut State Police.



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Maine

Colleges: Despite two home runs, UML baseball team falls to Maine

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Colleges: Despite two home runs, UML baseball team falls to Maine


One day after a nine-run victory over Maine, the UMass Lowell baseball team fell 9-5 to the Black Bears during America East action at LeLacheur Park in Lowell.

Despite the game being played in 35-degree temperatures, the River Hawks received a pair of home runs.

Catcher Nicholas Solorzano blasted a solo homer to right field in the second inning. In the ninth inning, first baseman Sean O’Leary ripped a pitch over the fence in right field.

UML managed eight hits. O’Leary led the offense, going 2-for-5 with an RBI and scoring two runs. Center fielder Carlos Martinez went 2-for-5 and drove in one run. Third baseman Joseph DeLanzo went 1-for-4 and collected one RBI.

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But three UML pitchers allowed 14 hits to Maine, which scored twice in the second inning, three runs in the fourth and two more runs in the seventh.

Taking the loss was Brian Foley (0-2). Foley allowed seven hits and five earned runs, while striking out four, in 3.1 innings. He was followed on the mound by Nolan Geisler, who yielded seven hits and two earned runs in 3.2 innings.

Track

A group of runners from the UMass Lowell men’s and women’s outdoor track and field team competed on the final day of the Raleigh Relays on Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.

Junior Emily Burdick (Billerica) kicked off the day in the women’s 800-meter run, finishing in 156th place with a 2:17.20 mark.

Next was the women’s 200, where junior Jayani Santos (Tewksbury) impressed with a 39th-place performance out of 149 runners in 24.75.

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The men followed, starting with sophomore Michael Fisher (Wallingford, Conn.) in the 200. He claimed 80th place in 22.46. The 800m run closed out the weekend and graduate student Graham Stedfast (Rowley) and senior Basit Iddriss (Milford) ran well. Stedfast finished in 29th place with a time of 1:51.33, while Iddriss claimed 113th place in 1:53.98.

“It was a good finish to the trip,” said UML head coach Gary Gardner. “Mike and Jayani ran solid second races for the weekend. Emily and Basit had their fastest openers ever. Graham had an illness and lost 10 pounds last week so we are very pleased with his race.”

Women’s lacrosse

In Lowell, senior Macy Shultz (Adams, N.Y.) posted a team-high five points, but UMass Lowell fell 16-10 to the Bryant Bulldogs in the team’s first home conference game of the season.

“A bit of a broken record here,” said UML head coach Lisa Miller. “We are competing. We had players who made and were trying to make plays. We need to keep scrapping, trying to come up with draw control and clear the ball. We are playing good defense and scoring consistently. Need to find a way to generate more offensive possessions.”

Shultz, who finished with three goals and two assists, was one of six River Hawks (4-7, 0-2 AE) to record at least a goal in the contest. Senior Grace Lydon (Rowley) collected two goals and two assists, while junior Bronwyn Hilbert (Lancaster, Pa.) added three points off a goal and two assists.

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Junior Chloe Bowers (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) added a pair of goals, while sophomore Georgia Ruscitti (Toronto, Ontario) and redshirt freshman Chiara Pompei (Catonsville, Md.) each tallied a goal.

The River Hawks went straight to work, as Hilbert found Shultz open for the first goal of the contest just over a minute in. Only a few minutes later, the hosts struck again, this time with Lydon finding the back of the net off a Hilbert assist, putting her squad in front 2-0. The Bulldogs retaliated with haste, though, scoring four straight to take a 4-2 lead into the second quarter.

The River Hawks will visit the Binghamton Bearcats next Saturday.

Men’s lacrosse

Endicott College defeated Roger Williams, 19-3, in Conference of New England action at Hempstead Stadium in Beverly.

Adam Priest (Billerica) and Manny Marshall (Chelmsford) found the back of the net twice in the wire-to-wire victory.

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Massachusetts

‘No Kings’ protests draw thousands against the Trump administration who are ‘fed up, pissed off, and also hopeful’ – The Boston Globe

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‘No Kings’ protests draw thousands against the Trump administration who are ‘fed up, pissed off, and also hopeful’ – The Boston Globe


Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey altered the lyrics of some songs to criticize Trump and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Let’s ship them out of Boston,” he told the crowd, referring to ICE agents and echoing lyrics from “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” “Are you with us?”

Pressley followed, telling demonstrators the “world is on fire.”

“It is going to take every single one of us doing everything we can to put this fascist, white nationalist fire out,” Pressley said. “The only way to beat a dictator is with defiance.”

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Some of the faces in the crowd at the “No Kings” protest on Boston Common.Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
The Dropkick Murphys perform during the protest.Finn Gomez for the Boston Globe

The flagship national demonstration was held in Minneapolis, where US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed in January during a massive federal immigration crackdown that ended last month.

Bruce Springsteen performed “Streets of Minneapolis,” the protest song released after the killing of Pretti with lyrics describing the city as “aflame” under “King Trump’s private army.”

In Massachusetts, organizers staged 169 demonstrations, said Rahsaan D. Hall, president and chief executive of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts and emcee for the Boston Common event.

Saturday’s gatherings marked the third time protesters have mobilized under the “No Kings” banner since the first protest last June. Another round of protests took place in October.

Demonstrators gathered as the US war in Iran entered its second month with oil prices surging and Trump declaring victory is at hand even as thousands of additional American troops head to the Middle East.

Within the GOP, congressional leaders are at odds over funding the US Department of Homeland Security, which has been partially shut down since mid-February and has a new leader, Markwayne Mullin. Trump fired his predecessor, Kristi Noem, earlier this month following controversies over her leadership.

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Mihika Gogate, 24, who recently moved to Boston from North Carolina, said she was demonstrating for “absolutely everyone in this world that is suffering at the hands of the decisions of our fascist leader at the moment.”

She carried a sign depicting a Joker playing card featuring Trump with a crown on his head.

“I think, especially now, it’s such a scary time to be an adult in this world,” Gogate said. “It’s not just something that is affecting one of us. It’s affecting all our futures and our current realities.”

Michael Payne, Jean Carroon, and Maxie Chambliss were at the “No Kings” protest on Boston Common.Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
The crowd on Boston Common was reflected in the horns of the performers.Finn Gomez for the Boston Globe

In Quincy, demonstrators gathered outside City Hall were encouraged to remain politically active.

“We hate what Donald Trump is doing. I’m tired of being in a state of exhaustion, and he’s bombarding us every day,” said Donna Cunningham, 51, a Quincy resident. “We need events like this to remind ourselves that we’re not alone in our little islands of our homes.”

On Boston Common, Sara Welch filmed the bustle as she walked through the park en route to Cheers. A resident of Hastings, Minn., Welch said she’s in the area for work.

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“It means a lot, especially with everything that went on in our state with ICE,” Welch said.

Yet some questioned whether large demonstrations are generating the changes they seek.

Warren May, a demonstrator from Watertown, said the Women’s March held the day after Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 was the last time he participated in such a large protest.

“That was really kind of great and inspiring and wonderful, but look where we are now,” May said. “It’s just gotten worse.”

John Cluverius, who teaches political science at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, said the mass demonstrations signal to elected Democrats that the opposition to Trump “is real and is tangible.” His popularity has slipped since the last “No Kings” demonstrations in October, he said.

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“Being the party out of power has a very isolating effect on both individuals and voters — the sense that they’re out of control of the destiny of the country,” Cluverius said. “There is almost an affirming effect for people to gather in these places and get the sense that even though they’re opposed to so many things that are happening, they’re not alone.”

There are also signs that the protests are pushing elected officials to answer demonstrators’ demands, Cluverius said.

On Friday, Senate Republicans abandoned vows to resist any deal for Department of Homeland Security funding that did not include money for ICE and US Customs and Border Protection, by voting to do just that.

“Senate Democrats … did not defect in any way, and I think that speaks to the fact that these rallies were today,” Cluverius said.

Several exhibitions on Boston Common brought attention to the impact of Trump’s policies.

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An installation called “Eyes Wide Open — The Cost of War” featured rows of shoes, backpacks, and toys symbolizing the more than 160 children killed at an Iranian school during the opening day of US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

“We hope that this will cause people to pause and consider the humanitarian impact of this war,” said Ziba Cranmer, 54, who belongs to the Massachusetts chapter of the National Iranian American Council.

An ice sculpture reading “END ICE” was carved by artist Kat Carves.

“It’s a very powerful message,” said Lisa Mahoney, 66, of Beverly.

Most Americans disapprove of Trump’s performance as president, according to YouGov polling on behalf of The Economist, which found this month that his net approval rating is at -18 percentage points.

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His deportation agenda, attacks on higher education, and efforts to nationalize elections are deeply unpopular in Massachusetts, which backed his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, in the 2024 election.

A February poll by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center found 72 percent of Massachusetts residents disapprove of Trump’s overall job performance, driven largely by fears that he threatens democracy.

Dave Beyna, portraying George Washington, arrived at the protest on Boston Common before it started.Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
Protesters sit at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at the “No Kings” Boston rally.Andrew Burke-Stevenson/for The Boston Globe

Changes to the childhood vaccination schedule paused for now by a federal judge in Boston, new eligibility limits to public safety net programs under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, and research funding cuts have also drawn opposition here.

Sonya Shropshire-Friel of Dover, N.H., said her parents protested during the civil rights movement and were arrested as college students in Elizabeth City, N.C.

“I thought if they can do that, I can show up here today,” she said.

Trump’s rhetoric and the actions of his immigration enforcement agents “really make America unsafe,” Shropshire-Friel said.

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“He has made people more inclined to be unkind and cruel toward one another,” she said. “I need to be out here with people who are also fed up, pissed off, and also hopeful.”


Laura Crimaldi can be reached at laura.crimaldi@globe.com. Follow her @lauracrimaldi. Anjali Huynh can be reached at anjali.huynh@globe.com. Aayushi Datta can be reached at aayushi.datta@globe.com.





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