Two killed, three injured in Somerset wrong-way drunk driving crash

SOMERSET, Mass. (WLNE) — A Christmas night wrong-way drunk driving crash on Veterans Memorial Bridge in Somerset killed two motorists and left three injured.

The alleged intoxicated driver, Adam Gauthier, 41, of New York, drove eastbound on the westbound lane of the bridge.

He then collided with two vehicles resulting in the deaths of two occupants of one of the vehicles struck, according to Massachusetts State Police and the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

The crash occurred at 11:10 p.m. on Monday, December 25.

Gauthier will be charged with two counts of Manslaughter while Operating Under the Influence, two counts of Motor Vehicle Homicide-OUI Liquor, and one count each of OUI-Liquor with Serious Bodily Injury, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Driving the Wrong Way on a State Highway.

Gauthier, formerly of Somerset, was arrested shortly after the crash.

The investigation revealed that Gauthier was driving a Range Rover eastbound in the westbound lane and struck an Infiniti SUV head on.

The Infiniti was operated by Floriano Arruda, 73, of Seekonk, with passengers Donna Arruda, 68, of Seekonk, and their 15-year-old grandson Jacoby Arruda, of Seekonk.

Jacoby Arruda was pronounced deceased at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and Floriano Arruda was pronounced deceased at Rhode Island Hospital.

Donna Arruda remains in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital.

The driver and front seat passenger of the other struck vehicle sustained minor injuries and were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital.

Gauthier was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford with non-life threatening injuries after his arrest.

Gauthier will be arraigned on charges from his hospital bed Tuesday afternoon.