New York man indicted by Bristol County Grand Jury in triple fatal crash in Somerset

A Bristol County Grand Jury Friday indicted 41-year-old Adam Gauthier of New York City on several charges related to a Christmas night motor vehicle triple-fatality on the Somerset side of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn announced.

Gauthier was indicted on three counts of Motor Vehicle Manslaughter While Operating Under the Influence and two counts of Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon.  His case will now be heard at the Fall River Superior Court.  

Gauthier, formerly of Somerset, was arrested shortly after the 11:00 p.m. Christmas night crash that claimed the lives of Floriano Arruda,73; Donna Arruda, 68; and their 15-year-old grandson, Jacoby Arruda.  All three Arrudas lived in Seekonk at the time of the incident.  The crash also resulted in injuries to two other individuals who were in another vehicle.

After being arrested, Gauthier was transported to Saint Luke’s Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.  He has since been discharged and posted bail. The case is being prosecuted by Co-First Assistant District Attorney Karen O’Sullivan.

Massachusetts State Police of the Dartmouth Barracks received an emergency call at 11:00 p.m. Christmas night regarding a collision on the bridge involving a wrong way operator and two other vehicles.

An Arraignment date has yet to be set by the court.