GREENFIELD — A Rhode Island man accused of hospitalizing seven motorcyclists whereas driving below the affect of medicine on Route 10 in Northfield final spring continues to be being held on $100,000 bail, Choose Michael Callan reaffirmed on Monday.
Ryan T. O’Farrell, 32, of Westerly, Rhode Island, faces 18 costs associated to the Might 29 incident. His legal professional, Jeanne Early, entered on his behalf not responsible pleas to at least one rely of working below the affect of medicine, 5 counts of working below the affect of medicine inflicting severe bodily harm, two counts of kid endangerment whereas working below the affect, three counts of assault and battery with a harmful weapon, 5 counts of assault and battery with a harmful weapon inflicting severe bodily harm, one rely of negligent operation of a motorized vehicle, and one rely of unlicensed operation of a motorized vehicle.
O’Farrell had been arraigned on 23 costs in Greenfield District Court docket in late Might, when he was ordered held with out bail, although Choose William Mazanec III set bail at $100,000 money or $500,000 surety ought to circumstances change permitting for bail. Nevertheless, O’Farrell’s case was transferred to Franklin County Superior Court docket as a result of its severity. He had beforehand appeared in Superior Court docket in early June, when Choose Jane Mulqueen took below advisement the attorneys’ bail arguments. O’Farrell appeared earlier than Callan on Monday.
In accordance with authorities, O’Farrell was driving south on Route 10 close to 272 Primary St. in Northfield in an SUV that was pulling a trailer carrying a bike at roughly 1 p.m. on Might 29 when he crossed the middle line and smashed into 5 bikes that have been heading north within the oncoming lane. 9 motorcyclists have been touring collectively as a part of a Connecticut bike membership. Chief Trial Counsel Jeremy Bucci, who’s prosecuting the case for the state, advised Callan on Monday that the riders suffered “catastrophic accidents.” He defined one lady had her leg amputated, and one man wanted his proper arm fused and later amputated.
“A number of of them won’t ever work once more,” he mentioned, including that bike riders have “nothing aside from a helmet to guard them.”
Bucci requested the $100,000 bail. Early argued bail in that quantity constitutes her shopper basically being held with out the appropriate to bail. She mentioned O’Farrell would reside with a buddy in Rhode Island if he makes bail.
“My shopper couldn’t be extra remorseful,” Early mentioned of the incident.
She additionally famous that O’Farrell was not examined for opioid use following the Might crash.
Bucci beforehand defined O’Farrell was leaving a motocross occasion together with his 10-year-old stepson and that boy’s 13-year-old buddy when he stopped at a fuel station and the 13-year-old observed O’Farrell in possession of a white powder, which Bucci described as a “a telltale signal of heroin or cocaine.” The 13-year-old reportedly advised authorities that inside minutes of leaving the fuel station, O’Farrell started “nodding out.” Bucci beforehand mentioned the 13-year-old was requested how he knew the time period “nodding out,” and the teenager responded that his personal father struggles with heroin habit.
The 13-year-old, based on Bucci, suffered two black eyes within the crash whereas O’Farrell’s stepson was “badly bruised.” The boys have been taken to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in Vermont for analysis and launched.
O’Farrell is due again in courtroom on Nov. 2 for a pretrial listening to.
Attain Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.