Massachusetts teen accused of being under the influence in fatal crash that killed younger brother

A Massachusetts teen is facing several charges concerning a fatal fiery crash that killed his younger brother and injured several others.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, 19-year-old Stefen Baulkman of Holyoke, has been charged with operating under the influence manslaughter, operating under influence causing serious bodily injury, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

He was arraigned in Chicopee District Court with bail set at $50,000 cash. At the Commonwealth’s request, his bail from an open firearm case was revoked resulting in him being held for at least 90 days. His next scheduled court date is on May 19, 2023.

The crash resulted in one fatality, who has been previously identified as Da’Vant Byrd, 13, of Holyoke, the younger brother of Stefen Baulkman. A resident of the home suffered serious injuries after the vehicle, allegedly operated by Baulkman, crashed into it.

According to information released by the DA’s Office, on Saturday, March 25, 2023, just before 2:45 a.m., Chicopee Police observed a motor vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Broadway Street in Chicopee.

Chicopee Police followed the vehicle onto Montgomery Street where a traffic stop was conducted. As a member of the Chicopee Police Department approached the vehicle, it took off in a northerly direction at a high rate of speed remaining on Montgomery Street.

The patrol officer returned to the cruiser and began traveling in the last known direction of the vehicle on Montgomery Street but had lost sight of it.

The officer located the vehicle in the vicinity of the 1000 block of Montgomery Street. He observed that the vehicle struck an exterior wall of a residential home, ending up inside the residence. The vehicle quickly caught fire and spread into the residence, engulfing the home in flames a short time later.

Inside the car there were four occupants, a driver and three passengers, Baulkman, Byrd, an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old. First responders were able to extricate three of the passengers from the vehicle and transport them to Baystate Medical Center for treatment of visible minor injuries. The fourth passenger, Byrd, was unable to be freed prior to the vehicle becoming fully engulfed by the fire. As a result of the crash and subsequent fire, he did not survive and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A resident of the home, who was struck by the vehicle, was inside the room when the vehicle crashed through the wall. The resident was able to be extricated by first responders from the crash and transported to Baystate Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries that were sustained during the crash. All other occupants of the home were able to exit safely before the structure was consumed by the fire.

This is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, and the Hampden District Attorney’s Office’s Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit.