Court amends pretrial conditions for Vt. man involved in Route 2 crash

First Assistant District Attorney Steve Gagne and defense attorney R. David DeHerdt discuss a hearing on the case of Javery A. Hattat in Franklin County Superior Court on Friday.

First Assistant District Attorney Steve Gagne and defense attorney R. David DeHerdt discuss a hearing on the case of Javery A. Hattat in Franklin County Superior Court on Friday. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

By DOMENIC POLI and JULIAN MENDOZA

Staff Writers

Published: 10-20-2023 7:04 PM

GREENFIELD — A 32-year-old man accused of causing a head-on crash on Route 2 that resulted in serious injuries to a Rhode Island family of four has had his pretrial conditions of release amended in regards to his right to drive.

Massachusetts immediately suspended the license of Bennington, Vermont resident Javery A. Hattat after he allegedly fell asleep at the wheel near Longview Tower on Route 2 in Greenfield on March 12 and crashed into a vehicle carrying a family headed home from a ski trip at Berkshire East Mountain Resort. Authorities say Hattat was also under the influence of drugs. While Hattat’s home state did not impose a reciprocal suspension, one is expected within the next 20 days.

On Friday afternoon in Franklin County Superior Court, Hattat’s conditions of release were amended to clarify he would be allowed to drive if his impending suspension ends up being reversed and his license is eventually reinstated.

Hattat has pleaded not guilty in Superior Court to four counts of negligent operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs resulting in serious bodily injury; four counts of reckless assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; negligent operation of a motor vehicle; possession of a Class B substance (cocaine); and failure to stay within marked lanes. He posted $10,000 bail in Greenfield District Court on March 10 and was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victims of the crash. His case was transferred to Superior Court on Oct. 11 due to its severity. His bail was also transferred.

Judge Karen Goodwin presided over Friday’s court session.

When questioned by police at Baystate Franklin Medical Center following the crash, Hattat allegedly told officers he fell asleep at the wheel after being up all night ingesting cocaine but that he had stopped at around “1 or 2” so as to not drive impaired, according to a police report filed by Northampton Police Officer Heather Longley. However, Longley, a certified drug recognition expert who was called to assist the Greenfield Police Department, wrote that Hattat did not clarify if this was 1 or 2 a.m., or 1 or 2 p.m. He also allegedly admitted he had smoked marijuana about an hour before his drive to “stay awake.”

Longley’s narrative also indicated Hattat was prescribed Suboxone, which he reportedly ingested earlier that morning.

“With all of the combined factors, the many general indicators of impairment, the admission of ingesting cannabis, Suboxone, cocaine and crack cocaine, it is apparent that this is a poly-drug use impairment,” Longley wrote in her narrative. “Although I was unable to conduct a full evaluation, I feel confident in my assessment to form an opinion.”

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Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120. Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.