NORTHFIELD, Mass. (WPRI) — A Westerly man will spend up to over a decade behind bars in connection with a serious crash that injured eight people two years ago.
Ryan O’Farrell, 34, was sentenced on Monday to 9 to 12 years in state prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including five counts of negligent operation under the influence causing serious injury and two counts of child endangerment under the influence.
On Sunday, May 29, 2022, O’Farrell was arrested after he veered into oncoming traffic, crashing into five motorcycles heading north on Routes 5 and 10 in Northfield, Massachusetts. Eight people who were either operating or passengers on the motorcycles suffered "severe, life-altering injuries," prosecutors said.
According to the Northwestern District Attorney's office, O’Farrell was driving an SUV that was towing a trailer with two children, aged 11 and 13, inside during the crash.
“Some of the victims lost limbs, livelihood, and are now confronted with very different futures
than they would have enjoyed before that day. These futures, thrust upon them by O’Farrell,
are days and nights of acute pain, economic uncertainty, and emotional trauma,” Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Matthew Thomas stated in a sentencing memorandum.
Several witnesses on the scene told investigators that O’Farrell showed signs of impairment.
As part of his guilty plea, O’Farrell admitted he was under the influence of suboxone at the time of the crash. He pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Negligent operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs resulting in serious bodily injury (five counts)
- Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury (five counts)
- Endangerment of a child under 14 by operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs (two counts)
- Assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (two counts)
- Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs
- Negligent operation of a motor vehicle
- Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle
“While we realize that no outcome in court can undo the tremendous harm caused by the
defendant, we hope today’s guilty plea and sentence bring some measure of justice and closure
to the victims in this case,” Thomas said.