Marblehead Woman Gets Probation In Fatal Byfield Greenhouse Crash

MARBLEHEAD, MA — A Marblehead woman accused of crashing through a greenhouse and killing a member of a Byfield garden center's owning family in May 2022 pleaded guilty to a motor vehicle homicide charge and was sentenced to three years of probation and a suspended prison sentence on Tuesday.

Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said Janet Bach, 71, pleaded guilty to the charge that she was the driver of a Honda CRV when it lurched in reverse and crashed through the greenhouse wall, killing Susan Sforza Nico, of Seabrook, NH, who was working as a cashier, and seriously injuring a 57-year-old man and 8-year-old girl.

Bach's 18-month prison sentence was suspended while she serves the probation. She is ordered not to drive, stay away from all witnesses and victims, pay $8,700 in funeral expenses, will lose her license for 15 years, and must perform 200 hours of community services

The Essex DA's Office said prosecutors had sought a 2 1/2 suspended sentence, while Bach's defense attorney, John Morris of Salem, asked for two years of probation with no possible of jail time.

The Sforza family permanently closed the Byfield Greenhouse and Garden Center following the fatal crash.