NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WGGB) – The driver involved in a deadly collision with a Hatfield man on Halloween has been cited.
First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne says that the Northampton Police Department issued a citation Thursday to 25-year-old Derek Graves of Chesterfield, charging him with motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation.
Graves was allegedly behind the wheel of his pickup truck on October 31 when he allegedly hit 35-year-old Dr. Pallav Parakh while he was crossing New South Street in a crosswalk.
Parakh died on Monday, November 5 from his injuries.
Gagne adds that Graves “now has the option of applying for a show-cause hearing before the Clerk Magistrate of the Northampton District Court, who will review the sufficiency of the evidence before a criminal complaint issues.”
Those hearings are typically held about 30 days after the citation was issued, assuming that the person requests a hearing.
Dr. Parakh practiced gastroenterology at Baystate Medical Practices in Greenfield. According to the Daily Hampshire Gazette, he leaves behind a wife and young daughter.
The charge, which is a misdemeanor, carries a maximum sentence of two and a half years in jail, a fine up to $3,000, and a 15-year loss of license, if convicted.
This happened TWO WEEKS AGO and now they’re FINALLY making up their mind?!?!??
And I’m sure the driver feels bad enough about initially hitting the guy, now this charge is going to ruin his life.
Investigations take time. Life is not like Law and Order. When the police investigate a crash it is completely possible for it to take WEEKS to figure out exactly what happened.
Crystal, the victim only recently died, so that changed the charges and direction of the case.