One arrested, two dead, several others injured, in wrong-way crash on Fall River, Somerset border, victim’s names released

Two people were killed, including a juvenile, and several others injured in a wrong-way crash on the Fall River, Somerset border.

According to Dave Procopio of Massachusetts State Police, late Christmas night Massachusetts State Troopers responded to a crash on Veterans Memorial Bridge in Somerset that was caused by an intoxicated wrong-way driver and resulted in the deaths of two occupants of one of the vehicles he struck. A third occupant of the victims’ vehicle is in critical condition. The wrong-way operator is under State Police guard at a hospital and will be charged with a host of offenses, including motor vehicle homicide and manslaughter.

Troopers from the State Police-Dartmouth Barracks responded to the westbound side of the bridge, which is part of Route 6, at 11:10 PM on Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2023 Land Rover SUV with a New York registration was being operated in an easterly direction on the westbound side. The Land Rover struck two westbound vehicles, a 2019 Honda Accord sedan with two occupants and a 2014 Infiniti QX50 SUV with three occupants. All six motorists, including the wrong-way driver, were transported to area hospitals.

The driver of the Infiniti, a 73-year-old, and his rear seat passenger, a juvenile teenage male, were pronounced deceased at the hospital. The Infiniti’s front seat passenger, a 68-year-old woman, suffered serious injuries and is in critical condition at an area hospital.

The driver and passenger of the Honda, both of them young adult women from Taunton, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

According to Gregg Miliote of the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, 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 last night at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, and Floriano Arruda was pronounced deceased this morning at Rhode Island Hospital. Donna Arruda is currently in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital.

Procopio stated that the wrong-way driver is identified as 41-year-old Adam M. Gauthier of New York City and formerly of Somerset. He remains hospitalized at Rhode Island Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries under State Police guard. Gauthier is being charged with several offenses, including Motor Vehicle Homicide While Under the Influence; Manslaughter; OUI-Liquor Causing Serious Bodily Injury; Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle; and Wrong-Way Operation on a State Highway. There is a possibility he will be arraigned later today at the hospital; that decision will ultimately be made by the hospital and the court. His case will be prosecuted by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

Fall River, Somerset, and Swansea personnel responded to the scene.

The investigation of the facts and circumstances of the crash is being conducted by the State Police-Dartmouth Barracks, State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and State Police Detective Unit for Bristol County. The Fall River and Somerset Fire Departments responded to the crash as well.

The crash necessitated the closure of both westbound lanes on the bridge for four hours.