Vermont man faces 11 charges in Greenfield crash

By JULIAN MENDOZA

Staff Writer

Published: 03-13-2023 5:19 PM

GREENFIELD — The driver involved in a head-on crash on Route 2 that resulted in serious injuries to four Rhode Island residents, including two children, Sunday afternoon allegedly admitted to police officers he had used drugs prior to the collision.

Javery A. Hattat, 32, of Bennington, Vermont, pleaded not guilty in Greenfield District Court on Monday 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.

When approached by police at Baystate Franklin Medical Center following the crash, Hattat allegedly told officers that he fell asleep at the wheel after being up all night “ingesting crack cocaine and powder 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 help him “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 writes in her narrative. “Although I was unable to conduct a full evaluation, I feel confident in my assessment to form an opinion.”

Judge William Mazanec III on Monday set bail at $10,000 cash with the condition that Hattat not be allowed to drive. Assistant District Attorney Aidan Lanciani handled the arraignment on behalf of the state while Hattat was represented by defense attorney R. Dave DeHerdt. A pretrial conference is set for May 9.

The head-on crash occurred shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Sunday on Route 2 in Greenfield, near Longview Tower. Hattat’s vehicle, a black Toyota Tacoma, sustained heavy front-end damage and he was taken to Baystate Franklin Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

The other involved vehicle, a black Nissan Armada registered in Rhode Island, sustained heavy front-end damage and was occupied by two adults and their two children, ages 9 and 12, all of whom were transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield with serious injuries, according to Greenfield Deputy Police Chief William Gordon. The parents were airlifted to the trauma unit by helicopter, while two children were transported by ambulance, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

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Greenfield Police, State Police detectives assigned to the DA’s office, and state troopers with the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section (CARS) and Crime Scene Services Section responded. At least seven ambulances responded, including Greenfield Fire Rescue, American Medical Response (AMR), Turners Falls Fire Rescue, South County EMS, Northfield EMS and Colrain Ambulance. An ambulance from Northampton was called in for an intercept along Interstate 91.

According to the DA’s office, the incident remains under investigation.

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com. Reporter Mary Byrne contributed to this article.

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