Man Gets 15 to 20 Years for Causing Crash that Killed Medford Man

The man responsible for a 2007 Somerville car crash that killed a Medford man was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in state prison, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone announced.

Javier Morales, 29, of Somerville, pleaded guilty in Middlesex Superior Court earlier this week to two counts of manslaughter, operating after a suspended license, subsequent offense, and failure to stop for a police officer, according to a press released from district attorney spokeswoman Cara O'Brien.

Paul Farris, 23, of Medford was the passenger in a taxi driven by Walid Chahine, 45, of Methuen that Morales barreled into with his SUV while trying to flee from police in May 2007, prosecutors said. Both Farris and Chahine died from injuries suffered in the crash.

Morales refused to stop for State Police on Route 16 in Everett at about 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, May 27, 2007, then led police on a chase through Somerville, prosecutors said.

Morales was traveling about 76 miles per hour with no headlights on along Kidder Avenue when his black SUV struck a taxi near the intersection with Highland.

Farris was rushed to Somerville Hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that morning.

Both Farris and Chahine, and an unidentified third victim who was a female, were all wearing their seatbelts, prosecutors said, but the violent impact of the collision ejected Mr. Farris from the cab and tore his seatbelt.

Chahine and the female victim were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston to be treated for their injuries. On June 3, 2007, Chahine died from injuries suffered in the crash. The female victim remained hospitalized for an extended period of time and is still affected today by the injuries she sustained, the press release said.

Judge S. Jane Haggerty sentenced Morales to 15 to 20 years in state prison followed by 15 years probation with the conditions that he does not operate a motor vehicle and does not apply for reinstatement of his license or right to operate, the press release said.

“This defendant pleaded guilty to causing a horrific car crash that resulted in the death of two innocent men and left a third victim with life-long injuries,” Leone said in a statement.  “...By pleading guilty today, this defendant is admitting to these troubling charges and will remain off the roads and out of communities for an extensive period of time.”