Man sentenced to prison in Massachusetts highway crash that killed 13-year-old, seriously injured two others

PLYMOUTH – A man will serve decades in state prison for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs when he struck a car, killing a 13-year-old girl, and leaving two others seriously injured, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz has announced. 

On September 24, 2024, a jury found 36-year-old Gregory Goodsell guilty of one count of Murder in the Second Degree, and one count each of Motor Vehicle Manslaughter while Operating Under the Influence, and Leaving the Scene of Property Damage. Goodsell was additionally found guilty of two counts of Operating Under the Influence Causing Serious Bodily Injury. 

In Plymouth Superior Court Friday, Goodsell was sentenced to serve Life in Prison with the Possibility of Parole in 20 years. Goodsell was additionally sentenced to serve 8 years to 8 years and one day after the “Life in Prison” sentence. 

At 6:50 a.m. on December 29, 2019, Pembroke Police received a call for a report of a two-car crash on Route 139 Pembroke (Church Street) and Oak Street with injuries. Two good Samaritans and a Massachusetts State Police trooper driving home from work, arrived on scene first. Pembroke Police and Pembroke emergency medical personnel responded, as did fire personnel from Hanover and Marshfield.

First responders observed a white Subaru containing three occupants, that had sustained heavy front-end damage. Across the roadway, a white Ford pickup truck which was operated by Goodsell, was fully turned around with heavy passenger side damage. Three people were extricated from the Subaru with catastrophic injuries. Fifty-year-old Elizabeth Zisserson, who was operating the motor vehicle, her 13-year-old daughter Claire, and friend Kendall Zemotel, 13, who were both sitting in the backseat. All were transported to South Shore Hospital. The two 13-year-old females were later transported to Boston hospitals for further treatment. Claire Zisserson succumbed to her injuries. 

Investigators determined that Goodsell attended a company party and then a house party in Pembroke prior to the crash. He departed the party at approximately 6:40 a.m. in his company-issued “Hi-Way Safety Systems, Inc.” white Ford F-250 truck, and struck a nearby tree, breaking his passenger side headlight. Through evidence and witness interviews, investigators determined that Goodsell was intoxicated with a BAC of 0.266, under the influence of cocaine, and passed through a red light at 67 m.p.h. before broadsiding the Subaru. At the time of the crash, inside Goodsell’s vehicle police located a bottle of whiskey, a beer can, two nip bottles, marijuana and a pipe. 

“Every decision comes with a consequence, and if Gregory Goodsell had made several different choices that fateful night, Claire would still be with us today,” DA Cruz said. “I am hopeful these two families and all that had their lives torn apart by this horrific crash can start to heal a bit, and feel some sense of closure with this sentencing.” 

In the event that Goodsell is paroled, he was sentenced to serve five years of probation with conditions that he stay away and have no contact with the families, he undergo substance and mental health evaluations, not operate a motor vehicle or possess a driver’s license in any state, and perform 50 hours of community service every year of probation. Goodsell will remain on parole for life. 

A Change petition asking MassDOT to revoke all current and future contracts with HIWAY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC. garnered nearly 12,000 signatures.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Russell Eonas and Sharon Thibeault.