Man facing additional homicide charge after second death in fatal Franklin crash

FRANKLIN, Mass. (WLNE) — The man accused of killing a five-year-old girl in a crash in Franklin is now facing additional charges after another passenger died from their injuries.

21-year-old James Blanchard is now facing an additional count of motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently under the influence of alcohol.

On May 24, a five-year-old girl was killed and her two family members were hospitalized with serious injuries after Blanchard’s truck and the family’s vehicle collided on Grove Street, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey.

38-year-old Minaben Patel, of Franklin, was hospitalized after the crash, as well as her 15-year-old son.

On June 3, officials confirmed Minaben Patel, the mother of the 5-year-old who died, had succumbed from her injuries.

Blanchard now faces two counts of motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently under the influence of alcohol, in addition to three counts of operating under the influence of alcohol and causing serious bodily injury, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with an open container of alcohol, and a marked lanes violation.