PLYMOUTH, Mass. — The driver who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and drugs and caused a fatal car crash in Pembroke after leaving a holiday party has been indicted on a murder charge, the Plymouth DA said.
On Friday, a Plymouth County Grand Jury indicted Gregory Goodsell, 31, of Marshfield, with one count of murder in the second degree, one count each of motor vehicle manslaughter while operating under the influence, motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence, leaving the scene of property damage and two counts of operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury.
Goodsell, a former employee of Hi-Way Safety Systems, is accused of causing a car crash that killed 13-year-old Claire Zisserson and seriously injured two others on Dec. 29, 2019.
[ 13-year-old Pembroke crash victim identified, driver charged with manslaughter OUI ]
Pembroke Police responded to a report of a two-car crash at Church and Oak Streets at around 6:50 a.m. that day, where they found a Subaru with significant side damage and a Ford company truck for Hi-Way Safety Systems with front-end damage. An officer said he found Goodsell sitting on the ground near his truck, speaking in slurred speech with glassy and bloodshot eyes. The officer placed Goodsell under arrest and, unable to walk on his own accord, was assisted to the police cruiser.
Witnesses told police they saw Goodsell driving 60, 70, 80 miles per hour, passing cars, running red lights and swerving across lanes.
Zisserson was killed in the crash. Her friend, 13-year-old Kendall Zemotel, was seriously injured and remains in critical condition. The 50-year-old driver sustained some injuries, but is expected to recover.
Court documents indicate Goodsell was slurring his speech, had glassy, blood-shot eyes, and smelled of alcohol when an officer arrived. He allegedly told police, “I know I shouldn’t have been driving...I can’t believe I did this...I drank way too much, I’m so sorry,” according to documents. He also admitted to using cocaine on Saturday night and into the early morning hours Sunday before driving.
[Timeline of a holiday tragedy in Pembroke]
Authorities were able to confirm Goodsell had attended an after-party in the pool house of the owners of Hi-Way Safety System, and husband and wife, Kenneth Horn and Kathy DeLong in Pembroke. He left the party at around 6:40 a.m., shortly before the crash. Through evidence and witness interviews, investigators determined that Goodsell was intoxicated, under the influence of cocaine and passed through a red light at a very high rate of speed at the time of the crash. Inside Goodsell’s vehicle, police located a bottle of whiskey and a beer can.
The same morning of the crash, one of Goodsell’s co-workers was found unresponsive inside a Rockland motel. Officers found Joseph Amaral unresponsive with blood in his mouth and bruising on his forehead. Police say they administered Narcan and began CPR before Amaral was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
Boston 25 News has learned another employee of Hi-Way Safety Systems, Omar Calderon, of Flushing, NY, was arrested at the hotel as officers were investigating Amaral’s condition. Police say Calderon, 31, told them he and Amaral had been at the Hi-Way Safety Systems holiday party where a fight had broken out.
MassDOT: Hi-Way Safety Systems can no longer bid on state contracts
Earlier that morning, a second Hi-Way Safety Systems employee was arrested for OUI in Hanover.
A Hanover police report details the arrest of Francis Paiva, of Halifax, who was found on the side of the road around 3:20 a.m. next to a vehicle arguing with a woman.
Police say the woman confirmed the pair had left a holiday party in Pembroke. After police say he failed a field sobriety test, Paiva was arrested and charged with OUI-liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and driving in possession of an open container.
[ Company’s contracts under review after drunken driving crash ]
While no charges have been filed against the company, Hi-Way Safety Systems has been indefinitely barred from bidding on any Massachusetts Department of Transportation contracts.
According to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office, the level of liability Hi-Way Safety Systems and its owners will face criminally is still under investigation.
Goodsell is expected to be arraigned in Plymouth Superior Court at a later date.
Related stories:
DA: Man charged with OUI in fatal crash had 35 previous driving infractions
Timeline of a holiday tragedy in Pembroke
DA investigating death of man found unresponsive at Rockland motel
13-year-old Pembroke crash victim identified, driver charged with manslaughter OUI
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