On Wednesday, loved ones of the seven motorcyclists who lost their lives in a tragic crash that occurred five years ago, pleaded with officials in New Hampshire to prohibit the truck driver responsible from driving on the state’s roads again.
In 2022, a jury acquitted Volodymyr Zhukovskyy of several counts of manslaughter and negligent homicide related to the tragic collision in Randolph on June 21, 2019. The collision resulted in the death of seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, a group of New England-based Marine Corps veterans and their spouses.
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Following a ruling made by an administrative law judge for the Department of Safety in May, Zhukovskyy is now subject to a state law that permits the suspension of his license for a period of up to seven years. A hearing was held on Wednesday to decide on the duration of this suspension, and a decision is expected to be made within the next 15 days.
The attorney representing the trucker is seeking an early end to Zhukovskyy’s license suspension, which the state has requested until 2031. The proposal suggests that the suspension be backdated to 2019 and the final two years of the maximum be waived for good behavior.
During Wednesday’s hearing, witnesses who were personally connected to those who lost their lives or rode with them on the day of the crash took center stage. They emotionally recounted the heart-wrenching devastation caused by the loss of their loved ones and close friends. These witnesses strongly opposed the idea of Zhukovskyy getting his license back, citing his previous history of collisions and driving infractions leading up to the fatal crash in 2019.
David Bark, a member of the Jarheads, expressed his outrage at the thought of someone who caused immense pain to numerous people, demanding their privilege back. He emphasized that driving a car on a public access highway is not a constitutional right but a privilege that can be taken away. “It’s not a constitutional right to drive a car, to operate a motor vehicle on a public access highway. This is a privilege,” he said.
In New Hampshire, she made it clear that the person she was addressing did not deserve to be behind the wheel of any vehicle. In addition to this, she pointed out that the individual did not deserve to be free and walking around while those who were affected by the tragic incident had to live with the painful and traumatic memories.
During the hearing, David Hilts, representing the state, advocated for imposing the longest suspension possible, highlighting Zhukovskyy’s past record of accidents and traffic violations.
Hilts emphasized the crucial need for safeguarding the traveling public in New Hampshire. He stated that the best possible way to ensure their safety is by suspending Mr. Zhukovskyy’s nonresident operating privilege for the maximum duration allowed by the law.
During the video appearance with his lawyer, Zhukovskky expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the crash victims. He also mentioned that he had been leading a healthy lifestyle for five years and had abstained from drugs, alcohol, and smoking. “I don’t do drugs, I don’t drink or smoke. You know, I live a good, healthy lifestyle,” he emphasized.
According to Earle Wingate III, the lawyer representing the individual in question, the decision regarding the length of the suspension should be based on facts rather than emotions.
Following his arrest after the crash, Zhukovskyy’s license in Massachusetts was immediately suspended in New Hampshire. However, he is now attempting to have it reinstated.
During the trial, the prosecution contended that Zhukovskyy had been repeatedly swerving back and forth prior to the collision and had admitted to causing it when questioned by the police.
Zhukovskyy’s license should have been revoked when he was arrested for drunken driving in Connecticut in May 2019. Connecticut officials notified the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles about the incident, but due to a backlog of out-of-state notifications about driving offenses, his license wasn’t suspended. The Connecticut case is still pending.
Following the 2022 verdict, Zhukovskyy, a permanent resident who migrated from Ukraine to the U.S. as a child, was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While a judge had issued a deportation order against him last year, the U.S. has suspended repatriation flights to Ukraine owing to the ongoing conflict with Russia. As a result, qualified Ukrainians have been granted Temporary Protected Status.
