New York man pleads not guilty to new charges in Somerset crash that killed three

Adam Gauthier, the 41-year-old New York City resident arrested on charges related to a late Christmas night motor vehicle triple-fatality on the Somerset side of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, pled not guilty Friday in Fall River District Court on the two newest charges filed in connection to the December 29th death of Donna Arruda.

According to Gregg Miliote of the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, after Arruda’s death, new charges of Manslaughter while Operating Under the Influence and Motor Vehicle Homicide-OUI Liquor were filed.

Gauthier was previously arraigned from his hospital bed on December 26 on charges of two counts of Manslaughter while Operating Under the Influence, two counts of Motor Vehicle Homicide-OUI Liquor, and one count each of OUI-Liquor with Serious Bodily Injury, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Driving the Wrong Way on a State Highway.

Gauthier, formerly of Somerset, was arrested shortly after the 11:00 p.m. Christmas night crash.

After being arrested, he was transported to Saint Luke’s Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Gauthier’s lawyer argued at today’s arraignment that the bridge was foggy on the night of the crash and that Gauthier failed field sobriety tests due to his injuries. Prosecutors stated that Gauthier admitted to officers he had been drinking and a strong odor of alcohol was detected by officers, according to WJAR 10.

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.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Gauthier was driving a Range Rover eastbound in the westbound lane on Route 6 while crossing the bridge. While on the bridge, Gauthier’s vehicle struck an Infiniti SUV head on.

The Infiniti was being operated by Floriano Arruda, 73, of Seekonk. Arruda’s wife, Donna Arruda, 68, also of Seekonk was in the front passenger seat and his 15-year-old grandson, Jacoby Arruda, also of Seekonk, was in the rear of the vehicle.

All three of the Arrudas were rushed to area hospitals. Jacoby Arruda was pronounced deceased On Christmas night at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, Floriano Arruda was pronounced deceased on the morning of December 26th at Rhode Island Hospital and Donna Arruda died at Rhode Island Hospital on December 29th.

Beyond the two initial vehicles involved in the crash was a third vehicle that also sustained front end damage during the incident. The driver and front seat passenger of the third vehicle sustained minor injuries and were treated at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River.

Gauthier is out on $100,000 bail and is forbidden to drink or drive.