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Driver sentenced to prison for causing 2019 fatal crash

Wife, daughter, speak to judge of their losses
Posted on: October 27, 2022 - 9:11am
Driver responsible for crash that killed Stephen Karpovich of Amherst sent to prison

GREENFIELD –  A Franklin Superior Court judge on Wednesday sentenced an Athol man to 6-10 years in state prison in connection with a July 2, 2019 motor vehicle collision on Route 63 in Leverett that lead to the death of Amherst resident Stephen J. Karpovich three weeks later.

Gary Gregoire, 44, changed his plea to guilty to charges of manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation and operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license.

Franklin Superior Court Judge Michael Callan adopted a sentence jointly recommended by Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Joseph Webber and Northampton defense attorney Jon Heyman: 6-10 years in state prison on the manslaughter charge; 4-5 years in state prison on the motor vehicle homicide charge, served concurrently. As part of the plea agreement, the Commonwealth dropped a charge of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and Gregoire lost his license for 15 years.

The crash occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Route 63, also known as Long Plain Road in Leverett, when investigators determined that Gregoire drove his vehicle at speeds of up to 102 miles per hour, crossed a double yellow line and crashed head-on into the oncoming car driven by Karpovich. Gregoire was driving despite having a suspended license and witnesses reported  seeing Gregoire appearing to be drag racing with another car.

Karpovich, 70, who was driving home to Amherst from his work in Greenfield, was life-flighted to Baystate Medial Center, where he died July 22, 2019. An autopsy the next day ruled the cause of his death as complications from multiple blunt force injuries.

ADA Webber read three statements in court written by Mr. Karpovich’s daughter, his niece and his sister, each of which addressed the devastation his death brought to the family. His wife addressed the court, calling her husband “a really good, good soul.” Referring to Gregoire, she said: “He didn’t just kill Steve, he killed a little part of all of our hearts. We’ll never be the same again.”

While she said she understands and supports the sentence, she also said she does not believe incarceration leads to rehabilitation, expressing her hope that Gregoire receives drug treatment.

Judge Callan asked Heyman if his client had apologized, and when Heyman said Gregoire did not think it would be appropriate to do so before the resolution of the case, the judge asked Gregoire if he wanted to then. Gregoire stood up and turned around to look at the victim’s wife. “I’m very sorry for what I did from the bottom of my heart. I’ve cried over it many times,” he said. “I deserve what I’m getting.