Williamsburg woman pleads not guilty to negligent motor vehicle homicide, other charges in cyclist death

NORTHAMPTON  – Haley Kelly-Sherette today pleaded not guilty to charges of negligent motor vehicle homicide, failing to stop for a stop sign and use of an electronic device (Facetime) while driving, in connection with the Oct. 6 death of bicyclist Charles Braun.

Kelly-Sherette, 23, of Williamsburg, was arraigned this morning before Northampton District Court Judge Jacklyn M. Connly in connection with the death of Braun, 69, a resident of Northampton, who was bicycling west on Elm Street passing by Woodlawn Avenue when he was hit at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6. He was pronounced dead at Cooley Dickinson Hospital 30 minutes later.

Kelly-Sherette was represented in court by Northampton defense attorney John Drake. Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Andrew Covington represented the Commonwealth.

ADA Covington and Attorney Drake jointly proposed the following conditions of release: that Kelly-Sherette not operate a motor vehicle and not leave the Commonwealth without approval of the Court.

Judge Connly adopted those recommended conditions and continued the case for a pre-trial conference on Nov. 29.

According to the investigation, Kelly-Sherette was driving south on Woodlawn when she engaged in a 53-second Facetime conversation with a friend. Her attention was also drawn to her 1-year-old daughter who was crying in the back seat. She failed to come to a complete stop at Woodlawn’s intersection with Elm, and struck Braun.  Kelly-Sherette called 911 and remained on scene.

The incident was investigated by the Northampton Police, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit attached to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, referred to as CARS.

--END--

Criminal charges are based on probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.