A superior court judge has denied a request for a bail hearing made by the driver of a pick-up truck who crashed into a group of motorcycles in Randolph last June that left seven people dead.
Volodymyr Zhukovskyy is facing seven counts of negligent homicide, along with a range of other charges including driving while intoxicated, for his role in the accident involving the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, which is made up of Marine Corps members and their families.
In March, his lawyers requested a bail hearing, citing what they say were multiple inaccuracies in an accident report compiled by state police. They contend that an independent report from an accident reconstruction firm shows that the initial impact wasn’t in the eastbound lane of Route 2, as prosecutors originally claimed, but occurred “directly over the center line.”
Prosecutors filed their objection to holding a bail hearing on Monday, pointing to Zhukovskyy’s two previous DUIs and alleged use of substances at the time of the crash.
[Read the state's objection, which contains toxocology results, by clicking here.]
The state included the results of a toxicology report made public for the first time showing that Zhukovskyy had fentanyl, morphine and cocaine in his system at the time of the accident.
“Nothing...changes the fact that the defendant was impaired on June 21, 2019; that one month prior to the crash he was released on bail for another charge of driving while under the influence of suspected drugs; and that the defendant's criminal history proves that is a danger,” wrote county prosecutors.
The state also called Zhukovskyy a “significant flight risk due to his immigration status” as a Ukranian national who is residing legally in U.S.
Judge Peter Bornstein denied the bail hearing request Tuesday. Zhukovskyy will remain held at the Coos County House of Corrections pending trial.
In their objection, prosecutors also released additional information about statements made by Zhukovskyy shortly after the accident and while incarcerated. They allege that the defendant admitted to using narcotics the morning of the accident. He also allegedly told prison medical staff that prior to the crash, he was an alcoholic who “drinks a bottle of Hennessy brand liquor every day” along with using ten “quarter-sized bags of heroin,” according to the motion.
Zhukovskyy will remain held at the Coos County House of Corrections pending trial.
