Young girl dies after alleged drunk driving crash in Franklin, authorities say
A young girl died and two of her family members were hospitalized with serious injuries after their car was struck Saturday afternoon by an alleged drunk driver, Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey said in a statement.
Police arrested James Blanchard, a 21-year-old from Franklin, and accused him of driving the pick-up truck that crashed into the family’s car on Grove Street in Franklin, authorities said.
Blanchard is being held on $500,000 cash bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Wrentham District Court Tuesday, Morrissey’s office said.
After the crash, the girl was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Her brother and mother, both passengers in the car, remain in the hospital. The father, who was driving the family, was released from the hospital after receiving treatment, authorities said.
Blanchard faces charges of motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently and under the influence of alcohol, three counts of operating under the influence of alcohol and causing serious bodily injury, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with an open container of alcohol, and a marked lanes violation, prosecutors said.
