Conn. officials say they properly warned Mass. RMV about suspect in fatal crash
ICE officials place detainer on Volodymyr Zhukovskyy
ICE officials place detainer on Volodymyr Zhukovskyy
ICE officials place detainer on Volodymyr Zhukovskyy
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles officials said Wednesday they believe they followed proper procedures that should have led to a license suspension for the suspect in a crash that killed seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire.
Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 23, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, was arrested in May in Connecticut on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. Officials said he refused a chemical test during the arrest, which should have triggered a license suspension through the commercial driving data sharing system.
But the suspension didn't happen, and Tuesday night, the head of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles resigned because of the RMV's failure to enter the information.
Connecticut officials said they entered the information properly.
"The DMV here in Connecticut proceeded with all the technology that we had to submit to Massachusetts, and we did do that, and we received acknowledgement that the state of Massachusetts did receive electronically the statistics we sent over there on this individual," said Tony Guerrera, deputy commissioner of the Connecticut DMV.
Investigators said Zhukovskyy was driving a 2016 Dodge pickup truck that crossed the center line and crashed into a group of motorcyclists Friday on Route 2 in Randolph, killing seven people and injuring three others.
>> Link: GoFundMe page to support victims' families
He pleaded not guilty to all seven counts Tuesday and is being held without bail because the court determined that his driving history would present a danger to himself or the public.
There was no comment Wednesday from a man where Zhukovskyy lived in West Springfield or from a woman at the trucking company where he worked.
Zhukovskyy has faced several charges in the past. In 2012, he was charged in Massachusetts with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and speeding. Those charges were all dropped.
He was arrested in 2013 in Massachusetts and charged with drunken driving. He pleaded guilty in 2017 to drug possession in Massachusetts.
He was charged earlier this year in Texas with possession of drug paraphernalia, and then charged in May in Connecticut with operating a vehicle under the influence.
A few weeks ago, Zhukovskyy was involved in a crash in Texas in which he rolled the truck he was using to haul cars. He did not receive any citations in that crash.
ICE officials place detainer on Zhukovskyy
Because of the charges Zhukovskyy is facing, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have placed a detainer on him. The detainer means that ICE would be notified if Zhukovskyy is about to be released.
According to an Associated Press report, Zhukovskyy's father said his son is a Ukrainian national who is in the United States legally as a permanent resident.
Immigration attorney Ron Abramson, who is not representing Zhukovskyy, said Zhukovskyy is now facing both criminal proceedings and immigration proceedings.
"That means he's here legally indefinitely, and ICE has identified one or more reasons why they think he may have violated the terms of his permanent residency, and he has a process coming to him known as removal proceedings which, has due process associated with it," Abramson said. "He would have a chance to contest the allegations."
Abramson said it's unclear why ICE didn't file a retainer on Zhukovskyy earlier, given his prior record.
The crash victims were members or supporters of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, which is planning a memorial service. The service will be held from noon to 5 p.m. July 13 at Gillette Stadium.