Franklin was ordered held in lieu of $5,000 cash bail during his arraignment in Westfield District Court.
2-17-12 - Westfield - Scene of early Friday morning single-car crash on Bates Road that took the life of 18-year-old Middlefield resident Emily Savery. Another passenger, 22-year-old Randy Smith of Douglas, was listed in fair condition at Baystate Medical Cebter in Springfield.WESTFIELD – A 23-year-old Upton man denied charges including drunken driving and motor vehicle homicide following an early Friday morning rollover that took the life of 18-year-old Middlefield resident Emily Savery.
Savery was pronounced dead at Noble Hospital following the crash. It was reported shortly before 12:50 a.m. near 233 Bates Road.
She was a senior at Gateway Regional High School.
Police arrested Jay Franklin, the driver of the car, following the crash. Lt. Hipolito Nunez said Franklin was with charged with motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of alcohol, causing serious injury while operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and speeding.
Franklin was ordered held in lieu of $5,000 cash bail during his arraignment in Westfield District Court and ordered to return on April 13 for a pre-trial hearing. The speeding charge is not listed in court documents.
Two other passengers were injured in the crash. Randy Smith, 22, of Douglas, initially listed in fair condition at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield on Friday, has since been upgraded to good, a hospital spokesman said.
Ashlin Dion, 18, of Huntington, also a senior at Gateway, was taken to Noble where she was treated and released, police said.
The crash occurred shortly before 12:50 a.m. as Franklin drove a 1994 Ford Escort north on Bates Road. The car left the roadway, hit a stump and overturned.
View full sizeEmily Savery and Jay Franklin, shown here last May during Gateway Regional HIgh School's prom at Delaney House in HolyokeLt. Jay Pitoniak said Friday one of the car’s four occupants managed to escape the overturned car and bystanders are believed to have helped pull out the other three before it burst into flames.
Franklin suffered minor injuries that did not require hospital treatment.
Gateway offered counseling to students and staff on Friday, school officials said.
Police said Bates Road was closed for four hours while they investigated the accident and cleared the scene.
The crash was investigated by the Westfield Police Department Traffic Bureau with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section.
As a condition of release, Franklin was ordered not to drive and to undergo drug and alcohol screening, according to court documents.