Franklin man facing charges after child killed, other family members seriously injured in crash

A child has died, and two other family members were hospitalized with serious injuries after a two-vehicle crash on Grove Street in Franklin, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said today.

 The girl was a passenger in a car involved in a collision with a pickup truck at approximately 6:22 p.m. Saturday in the area of 76 Grove St., District Attorney Morrissey and Police Chief Thomas Lynch said.

She was taken to a hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

Her brother and  mother,  both passengers in the car, remain in the hospital.

The father,  who was driving the car, was released from the hospital after treatment.

The driver of the pickup truck, James N. Blanchard, 21, of Franklin, was arrested. He faces charges of motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently and under the influence of alcohol,  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.

Blanchard was being held on $500,000 cash bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Wrentham District Court on Tuesday.