Driver in fatal crash indicted

By George P. Hassett

The driver who allegedly caused a deadly May 27 crash was indicted this week on two counts of manslaughter, two counts of motor vehicle homicide and failure to stop for police.

Javier Morales, 29, of Somerville, allegedly led State Police officers on a chase May 27 that ended with a crash that killed Paul V. Farris, 23, of Medford, and Walid Chahine, 45, of Methuen.

Officials also released new details of the chase that led to the fatal crash. Middlesex County District Attorney Gerard T. Leone said Morales’ flight from police led to tragedy.

“This is an extremely troubling case in which the defendant’s actions resulted in the tragic deaths of two people and seriously injured another,” District Attorney Leone said. “By failing to avail himself of numerous opportunities to stop, the defendant chose to recklessly turn a 40,000 pound motor vehicle into an agent of death and destruction.”

According to prosecutors, at approximately 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, May 27, Morales was driving a Mercury Mountaineer SUV in Everett. A Massachusetts State Trooper observed the SUV make a left-hand turn from the third travel lane of Route 16, cutting across the left-hand turn lane before crossing over Route 16 and forcing cars coming in that direction to stop abruptly to avoid collision. The trooper activated his lights, pulled behind the vehicle, and attempted to stop the vehicle for the automobile law violation that he had observed, according to a release from the D.A.’s office.

Morales, after initially pulling into a parking lot, exited the parking lot at a high rate of speed, allegedly traveling through a red light and onto Route 16 headed westbound. It is alleged by prosecutors that he sped through numerous red traffic signals, and never slowed or stopped for the police cruiser traveling behind him.

As the defendant entered into Somerville, he allegedly continued to speed through several stop signs, drove through the Powderhouse Rotary going in the wrong direction, and avoided collision with a stopped car waiting to enter the rotary by driving on the sidewalk.

The trooper in pursuit, after slowing to make his way through the rotary and permitting the stopped vehicle at the rotary to move out of his way, observed the black SUV take a left turn onto Kidder Avenue, according to the release. The trooper observed the SUV from a distance allegedly travel through several stop signs posted at intersections and continue to drive with its headlights off.

Upon arriving at Highland Road and Kidder Avenue, the trooper observed the SUV approximately 150 feet past the intersection and facing in the wrong direction, police said. He then observed a green and white Metro Taxi with significant damage.

Preliminary analysis by the State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section (CARS) determined that Morales was driving approximately 60 to 70 miles per hour. The analysis also determined that the taxi was moving at approximately 20 m.p.h. The driver of the cab was Chahine, Farris was the rear right passenger, and Katelyn Hoyt, Farris’ girlfriend, age 21, was the left rear passenger. All were wearing seat belts at the time. The violent impact of the collision ejected Farris from the cab and tore his seatbelt.

Farris was transported to Somerville Hospital and pronounced dead that morning. Chahine and Hoyt were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston to be treated for their injuries. Chahine died of injuries suffered in the crash June 3.

An arraignment date on the Superior Court charges has not yet been set.

Comments

[eunice scarfo]

i want to know why back up was not called in if it had i think the accident could have been avoided.

[Uncle Ron]

Thanks for the update. I think the DA meant a 4000 pound vehicle?
Regardless, does anyone know if Morales is still in custody or did he make bail?? I would really hate to see him run again!
I am posting an article from The Hearld - let's have a great turnout
for Katie.
Hotline: Benefit gig set for singer Farris
By Michael Marotta
Thursday, July 5, 2007

A little more than a month after he was killed in a car accident in Somerville, friends and family are coming together for a tribute concert for 23-year-old Paul Farris, singer of Medford-based alt-rock band theMark.

The Aug. 3 show at Good Time Emporium in Somerville will also serve as a fund-raiser for Farris' girlfriend, 21-year-old Kate Hoyt, who was critically injured in the May 27 accident. She's slowly recovering.

"Kate's doing OK - she's generally confused and doesn't remember anything from the last two years," said friend Adam Arrigo, who graduated from Tufts University with Farris. Hoyt didn't have health insurance, so friends are hoping to raise money to help with medical bills.

Farris and Hoyt were in an idling taxi on Highland Road when it was allegedly struck at 70 mph by Javier Morales, 23, of Somerville, who was fleeing police in a car chase that began in Everett.

The Somerville Journal reported Morales last week was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of manslaughter, two counts of motor vehicle homicide and failure to stop for a police officer. The cab driver, Walid Chahine, 45, died of complications from the accident on June 3.

For the benefit, Arrigo's band the Main Drag and the Minus Scale will perform. Arrigo said more bandswill be added to the bill.

In the meantime, the families of Farris and Hoyt are accepting donations to the Farris-Hoyt Care Fund, in care of T.D. Banknorth, 95 Highland Ave., Needham. Any Banknorth branch will accept a donation. You can hear live recordings of Farris' band, theMark, at www.myspace.com/themark.

Thanks to all the good folks of Somerville,and Mayor Joe, for their support.

Uncle Ron