Driver Pleads Guilty in Crash that Killed Medford Man

A Somerville man pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter in connection with the May 27, 2007 motor vehicle crash that killed Paul Farris, 23, of Medford, and Walid Chahine, 45, of Methuen, and seriously injured a third victim, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Javier Morales, 29, of Somerville , pleaded guilty today in Middlesex Superior Court on charges of manslaughter (2 counts), operating after a suspended license, subsequent offense, and failure to stop for a police officer. Judge S. Jane Haggerty sentenced the defendant to 15 to 20 years in state prison followed by 15 years probation with the conditions that he does not operate a motor vehicle and does not apply for reinstatement of his license or right to operate.

“This defendant pleaded guilty to causing a horrific car crash that resulted in the death of two innocent men and left a third victim with life-long injuries,” District Attorney Leone said. “This defendant had numerous opportunities to stop for the police officer, yet continued to make decisions to drive unsafely at high rates of speed through densely-populated areas, endangering those around him. By pleading guilty today, this defendant is admitting to these troubling charges and will remain off the roads and out of communities for an extensive period of time.”

According to authorities, at approximately 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, May 27, 2007, the defendant 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 eastbound 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.

The defendant, after initially pulling into a parking lot, exited the parking lot at a high rate of speed, traveling through a red light and onto Route 16 headed westbound. The defendant traveled at a high rate of speed, through numerous red traffic signals, and never slowed or stopped for the police cruiser traveling behind it.

As the defendant entered into Somerville, he 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, 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. The trooper observed the SUV from a distance travel through several stop signs posted at intersections and continue to drive with its headlights off.

The trooper then observed indications that the black SUV had crashed before coming upon the intersection of Kidder Avenue and Highland Road in Somerville. Upon arriving at the scene, the trooper observed the SUV approximately 150 feet past the intersection and facing in the wrong direction. He then observed a white Metro Taxi with significant damage.

Analysis by the State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section (CARS) determined that the speed of the black SUV driven by the defendant at point of impact was approximately 76 miles per hour. The analysis also determined that the taxi was moving at approximately 10 m.p.h. The driver of the cab was identified as Chahine, Farris was the rear right passenger, and the third victim, a female, was the left rear passenger. All three victims were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The violent impact of the collision ejected Mr. Farris from the cab and tore his seatbelt.

Mr. Farris was transported to Somerville Hospital and pronounced dead that morning. Mr. Chahine and the female victim were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston to be treated for their injuries. On June 3, 2007, Mr. Chahine died of his injuries suffered in the crash. The female victim remained hospitalized for an extended period of time and is still affected today by the injuries she sustained.

The defendant was arraigned on May 29, 2007 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where Judge Maurice Flynn ordered the defendant held on $100,000 cash bail. He was indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury on June 28, 2007. He was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on July 30, 2007 where Judge Wendie Gershengorn ordered Morales held on $500,000 cash bail.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Joseph Gentile. The victim witness advocate is Danielle Demeo.

– Information from Middlesex Country District Attorney Gerry Leone