Overview
- A Norfolk County grand jury indicted James N. Blanchard V on two counts of manslaughter while driving under the influence and one count of driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury.
- Blanchard pleaded not guilty at his Norfolk Superior Court arraignment and was ordered held on $250,000 cash bail.
- Prosecutors say police found multiple open alcohol containers in his pickup and recorded a blood-alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit.
- The May 24 head-on crash on Grove Street killed 5-year-old Krisha Patel at the scene and her mother, Minaben Patel, ten days later.
- The Patels’ 14-year-old son suffered critical injuries, the father was not seriously hurt, and related charges remain pending in other courts including Wareham District Court.