22-year-old Massachusetts man pleads not guilty to fatal crash that killed mother and daughter with Fall River ties

A Franklin man pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and drunk driving charges relative to a two-vehicle crash in Franklin in May that resulted in the deaths of a mother and her daughter, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said today.

22-year-old James N. Blanchard V was ordered held in jail on $250,000 cash bail following his arraignment today in Norfolk Superior Court. He faces two counts of manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing serious bodily injury.

The charges stem from a crash on May 24th on Grove Street in Franklin where Blanchard, operating in the wrong travel lane, collided head on with a car carrying four occupants, killing 38-year-old Minaben Patel and her 5-year-old daughter, and seriously injuring her 14-year-old son.

Morrissey stated that if Blanchard posts bail, he must refrain from using alcohol and submit to testing and not drive a motor vehicle while his case is pending.

He is due back in court on December 22nd.

Blanchard was previously arraigned in Wrentham District Court on charges including motor vehicle homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol.  He was subsequently indicted by a Norfolk County Grand Jury on manslaughter charges.

The Patel family has family members located in Fall River.

Vigils were held for both Krisha and Minaben.