Man Gets Jail For Manslaughter In Fatal Pike Crash

WORCESTER, MA—A Leominster man pleaded guilty to motor vehicular manslaughter charges related to a crash that killed a woman from New Jersey in 2013.

Dwayne Blackman, 37, from Leominster, was sentenced in Worcester Superior Court on Friday to seven to eight years in prison, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

Blackman drove a car up to 80 miles an hour in the wrong lane on the Mass. Turnpike between Sturbridge and Auburn in the early morning hours of July 21, 2013. He struck another car and a minivan on the highway, killing the driver of the minivan and injuring two others in another car. Blackman also sustained serious injuries.

Besides the manslaughter charge, Blackman faced charges of operating under the influence of alcohol, motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, operating to endanger, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and failing to stop for police.

Assistant District Attorneys David P. Feraco and Anthony Melia recommended a 15- to 18-year sentence while defense attorney James Gribouski recommended a 5-year to 5-years-and-a-day sentence. Judge Shannon Frison imposed the 7- to 8-year sentence on the manslaughter charge, and 10 days in the House of Correction on the unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. A guilty plea for failing to stop for police was filed, as well.

The operating under the influence of alcohol, motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, operating to endanger, were considered lesser included charges of the manslaughter by motor vehicle charge and were dismissed, said the DA.

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