Millbury man on probation for fatal crash held for drinking

It’s an understatement to say that there are many people who would argue that a driver who causes another person’s death with reckless behavior should receive substantial punishment. If the driver flees the scene of the car accident — more concerned with himself than the person injured due to his recklessness — many would say the punishment should be harsher.

In an accident three years ago in Worcester, a 54-year-old Millbury man was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison and 10 years of probation after he pleaded guilty to motor vehicle homicide by negligent driving — and then fleeing the scene of the crash.

However, many are wondering if that sentence was enough. The Millbury man was recently ordered held without bail so that officials could determine if he violated his probation terms by consuming alcohol.

The man was driving a commercial utility vehicle on April 26, 2010 when witnesses said he drove through a red light at Dorothy Avenue and Burncoat Street, slamming into a car driven by a 72-year-old Sachem Avenue man, who later died of injuried sustained in the collision.

The Millbury man backed the truck up and fled down the street, witnesses said. A day and a half later, he surrendered to police.

When he was sentenced, he received credit for more than a year he spent in jail after being unable to post bail.

Last week, a Worcester probation officer alleged the man had violated terms of probation by failing an alcohol breath test. One of the conditions of his probation is that he have a remote alcohol-testing device in his home.

Anyone harmed by a drunk driver has the right to seek compensation for damages.

Source: Telegram.com, “No bail for Millbury man on probation for fatal 2010 crash,” April 30, 2013