A 21-year-old man accused of driving drunk and crashing his pickup truck into a car, killing two of its occupants, including a 5-year-old girl, is facing a new charge, prosecutors said.
James Blanchard, of Franklin, faces an additional count of motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently under the influence of alcohol in connection with the fatal crash on Grove Street in Franklin, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey’s office announced. The new charge is related to the death of Minaben Patel, 38, of Franklin, who died in a hospital days after the May 24 crash.
Patel was a passenger in a car driven by her husband that prosecutors say Blanchard slammed into, killing her and her 5-year-old daughter.
Blanchard is expected to be arraigned on the new charge Tuesday in Wrentham District Court. He was previously arraigned on motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently under the influence of alcohol and other charges related to the crash. A judge ordered him held on $250,000 cash bail, according to Morrissey’s office.
