After a tragic motorcycle crash that left seven dead, the head of the Massachusetts motor vehicle division has resigned. Boston.com reported the resignation comes in the wake of a fatal crash that happened in New Hampshire at the hands of Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 23.
Boston.com reported Erin Deveney resigned after the state Registry of Motor Vehicles failed to act on the information provided by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles about the driving history of Zhukovskyy. The agency did not remove his commercial driving license after a drunken driving arrest.
According to Boston.com, Connecticut prosecutors reported that Zhukovskyy was arrested May 11 after failing a sobriety test. Despite denying allegations that he was intoxicated, his lawyer, John O’Brien, reported he will fight the charge.
Zhukovskyy who has had several run-ins with the law regarding his erratic driving behavior faces possible deportation. This comes after a letter filed Sunday requesting details on his 2017 heroin and cocaine convictions.
Boston.com added that several of his driving violations include a drunken driving charge in 2013. Reports also say he was placed on probation for one year and his license was suspended for 210 days, according to The Westfield News.
He was arrested and charged Monday for the fatal crash. He has pleaded not guilty for seven counts of negligent homicide. The victims were members or supporters of the Marine JarHeads, a New England motorcycle club that includes Marines and their spouses.
He was employed by Westfield Transport, which has been cited for various violations of the past two years, MassLive.com reported. During the time of the crash, he was in a company vehicle and towing a flatbed trailer. Reports claim the flatbed may have caused the accident to be more catastrophic and may account for the higher number of fatalities that occurred.
The transportation company has yet to make any official comments, however, Boston.com reports the owner has said he was cooperating with the investigation.
