Rhode Island man arrested after crashing into 5 motorcycles, seriously injuring 8

NORTHFIELD – Police arrested a Rhode Island man on multiple charges after he veered into the oncoming lane on Routes 5 & 10 in Northfield Sunday, crashing into five motorcycles, causing serious injuries to eight people who were either operating or passengers on the motorcycles.

According to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, the crash occurred around 1 p.m. Sunday in the vicinity of 272 Main St., Northfield, when Ryan O’Farrell, operating an SUV pulling a trailer carrying a motorcycle heading south, crossed over a solid yellow double center lane, striking five motorcycles heading north. The motorcyclists were part of a group of nine from a Connecticut motorcycle club that had left Connecticut around 11 a.m. Sunday.

Eight people were transported to area medical centers, including two listed in critical condition at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.

Police arrested O’Farrell, 32, of Westerly, R.I. on these charges: 7 counts of operating under the influence of drugs causing serious bodily injury; operating under the influence of drugs; 2 counts of child endangerment; negligent operation of a motor vehicle; unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; operating an unregistered motor vehicle. There were two children, ages 11 and 12, in the vehicle.

Responding to the scene were police from the Northfield, Gill and Phillipston departments, State Police detectives assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, troopers with the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section (CARS) and State Police Crime Scene Services Section (CSSS). The crash remains under investigation.

O’Farrell was held on $250,000 bail. He will be arraigned in Greenfield District Court Tuesday morning.