Man pleads not guilty to drunk driving manslaughter charges in fatal Christmas night crash

Jo C. Goode, The Herald News
Updated ·2 min read

FALL RIVER — Adam Gauthier, formerly of Somerset, accused of killing three family members on Christmas night on the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge in an alleged drunk driving accident, pleaded not guilty to related charges on Wednesday in Bristol County Superior Court.

Gauthier, 41, was indicted last month by a Bristol County grand jury on three counts of manslaughter while operating under the influence and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Gauthier is accused of driving a 2023 Range Rover SUV drunk the wrong way from the Somerset side of the bridge on Route 6. He allegedly crashed into several vehicles head-on. The crash killed Jacoby Arruda, 15, and his grandparents, Floriano Arruda, 73, and Donna Arruda, 68, all of Seekonk.

'I wish we had more time': Family is devastated after Christmas crash that left 3 dead

Adam Gauthier was arraigned on a third manslaughter with operating under the influence charge Friday, Jan. 19, in Fall River District Court, in the car crash that killed Donna and Floriano Arruda and their grandson, Jacoby Arruda, on Christmas night on the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Somerset.
Adam Gauthier was arraigned on a third manslaughter with operating under the influence charge Friday, Jan. 19, in Fall River District Court, in the car crash that killed Donna and Floriano Arruda and their grandson, Jacoby Arruda, on Christmas night on the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Somerset.

Gauthier, who lives in New York, suffered non-life-threatening injuries due to the accident. He initially was arraigned from his hospital bed at New Bedford’s St. Luke’s Hospital the day after the crash for the death of Jacoby and Floriano before being transferred to Bristol County House of Correction. He was later arraigned in Donna Arruda’s death in January.

After the accident, the Arruda family was rushed to the hospital. Jacoby Arruda died that night at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. His grandfather died the next day at Rhode Island Hospital; his grandmother died from her injuries on Dec. 29.

Gauthier was released on $100,000 cash bail before his indictment.

According to court records, a Superior Court judge ordered that he remain free on the same cash bail. Other terms of his release include that he surrenders his passport, refrain from drug and alcohol use, undergo remote alcohol testing and that he does not drive in any other jurisdiction.

He is scheduled to be back in court on June 3.

Court records indicate that the case is being prosecuted by first assistant Bristol County District Attorney Karen O'Sullivan. Gauthier is being defended by attorneys Kevin Reddington and Patrick Reddington.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Adam Gauthier pleads not guilty in Christmas crash that killed 3