The 23-year-old West Springfield truck driver police say killed seven motorcyclists, including a former Haverhill man, was high on drugs at the time of the fatal New Hampshire crash in June, according to a new federal report obtained by “The Boston Globe.”
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration document alleges Volodymyr Zhukovskyy tested positive for an unspecified drug in the wake of the fiery June 21 crash that left Albert “Woody” Mazza Jr. and six other bikers dead and three other people injured. The drug—said to be a narcotic or amphetamine—left him “incapable of driving safely,” the Globe said.
Zhukovskyy, who has pleaded not guilty to negligent homicide, is said to also have admitted he was reaching for a drink at the time of the accident.
The motorcyclists killed were part of Jarheads Motorcycle Club and were riding to a charity event at the American Legion in Gorham, N.H., at the time of their deaths. The club consists of active duty or honorably discharged marines and FMF Corpsmen.