Relative danger
 

People die on boats every year. People fall out, run people over, crash going out to dinner and hit stationary objects. Are boats dangerous or do they require common sense, regular upkeep and respect?

Twenty eight times as deadly as walking the WOW trail at 2 am? It's all relative. The machine is not dangerous. Is it an issue in the live free or die state, no helmets weather or not someone chooses to ride a motorcycle? Are the open air Spyders, trikes and Can Ams any safer?

I'm not sure what the point is other than a personal choice would be to not ride a Harley or any other brand of motorcycle. Does it relate to the ride and crash?

Is choice always right or wrong?

In the beginning, the media screwed-up this story big time. They reported the truck driver's background before learning the facts of toxicology testing on the motorcyclists. By then public opinion became mob rule and has remained that way. The media is always very slow to report itself wrong.

Misinformation.

The facts stated in court do not support the conclusion of impairment. His license was not suspended or "removed" at the time of the accident.

Is Coos County Big Enough to Find a Competent Jury?
 

He even said he caused the crash!

Coös County Police were too slow to read his Miranda Rights? :rolleye2:

Worse, eligible Coös County voters who'd read of those instances would be excluded from the jury! :eek: That leaves a very ignorant jury in a tiny jurisdiction with few who hadn't known of this crash that left seven dead bodies.

The defense found a weak link among the bikers, and played it to the hilt. :(

Among my library of books--mostly about Nature--I have a volume autographed to me by the author titled, "The Defense Never Rests".

Personally, I'd like very much to analyze an enlarged aerial photograph of the [cleared] roadway scene with the sun directly overhead.

A none prejudiced jury is the basis of our system.

He wasn't impaired, and didn't cross the line.
He did admit to being distracted and felt in the emotion of the moment that he had been at fault.

He plead not guilty. And the jury found the facts to be so.

A weak link... you mean impaired and crossed the line?

"Pacella told Western Mass News that this case rested on the experts."

"There was an expert for the defense who said that although Zhukovskyy was just over the centerline, that at the time of the accident, the bike had turned sideways, essentially, when it hit the truck. Therefore, he lost control first and he caused the accident," Pacella explained.

August 9, 2022: https://westernmassnews.com/2022/08/...uilty-verdict/

Am trying to think of something intelligent to say, here? .... :eek2: ..... Maybe that a Subaru is supposedly 28-times less fatal than a Harley Davidson, plus it always has air conditioning and a heater and four tires.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrHxVqpNPdo&t=36s ....... Harley's on the Lake Winnipesaukee ice, Meredith Bay ice fishing derby, Feb 2 2020 ...... think I gotta try this next winter ...... except with in-line roller skates with four roller skate wheels, in-line ..... ha-ha-ha! ..... roller skating on the ice ...... weeeooooo!

You should give up the rant about motorcycles - or any brand in particular - as the people riding are keenly aware of the inherent danger.

To Quash Prior Defendant History or Not?
 

Besides the fact he took heroin and cocaine that morning, admitted to being responsible for the crash, there was plenty to know. (Even his defense attorneys admitted he was over the yellow line, and then, they found alcohol among the dead bikers).

The next day, I'd like to be that journalist who followed up the jurors' reactions. How would you feel as a juror in this case, returning home and reading the following?

‣ Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles records show that Zhukovskyy’s license had been temporarily suspended shortly after a 2013 arrest in Westfield because he was deemed an “immediate threat.”

‣ The Westfield News reported in 2014 that Zhukovskyy was placed on probation for one year and had his license suspended for 210 days in that case.

‣ The video of his February arrest at a Denny’s restaurant in Baytown [TX] showed a jittery man hopped up on something that wouldn’t allow him to stand still. Officers responded to the restaurant for a complaint about a customer who was “talking to himself and acting strange” and banging on the counter, the Boston Herald reported.

‣ Zhukovskyy’s license had been suspended for several years after a drunk driving incident in Westfield, MassLive reported.

‣ And on June 3, five months after his February arrest in Baytown, he rolled an 18-wheeler in the same area, the Boston Herald reported.

That wreck occurred just two weeks before Zhukovskyy plowed into the motorcycle club in New England.

He's so unlucky. :rolleye1:

Just the opposite, actually: he beat the rap.

Did he plow into them, or did they plow into him? The reconstruction shows he was on his side of the center line.

His driving history, while filled with problems, did not come into consideration in the not guilty finding.

Too many motorcycle operators hug the center line or ride side by side. Definitely less safe than riding more to the right and single file.

Not Done Here: Need the Phone Number of Highway Patrol...
 

1) Yes, he did. Criminal-Defense Lawyers can be proud of themselves.

2) However, I followed the same empty car-hauler up a large, but steep hill with diesel pumps at one location and gasoline at the other. Not knowing my way around that location, I followed "them" :rolleye2: at a distance. The pickup truck towing the trailer MADE HUGE TURNS, just like an 18-wheeler. :confused:

3) I recall the defendant took a gentle right turn with a slight rise in the roadway before "intersecting" with the motorcycles. In my mind's eye, I can see the trailer whip-sawing across the victims' path, and needing to correct for the whip-saw. :eek:

(Boating analogy: Think of kids riding in a towed tube after a sharp turn).

Especially with excessive speed, that would put the "inebriated" lead-motorcyclist under the left wheel of the subject's truck. (!)

And make the confession of guilt very real! 😱

IF the NH Highway Patrol didn't take the identical path in their reconstruction (if a reconstruction was done at all)...well..shame on them--and the Coös County prosecuting attorneys.

4) Another observation on the same afternoon, do bikers traveling in groups knowingly put the noisiest motorcycle in the back of the group? (Not kidding). :o

Judge Orders Innocent Truck Driver Deported...
 

Gosh, I'd have thought he'd have returned already to take up arms to defend his homeland.

From the Boston Herald:

A judge has ordered the deportation of a commercial truck driver from Ukraine who was taken into custody by immigration authorities last year shortly after he was acquitted of causing the deaths of seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire.

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 27, of West Springfield, Mass., had a series of immigration hearings after he was acquitted in August on seven counts of manslaughter, seven counts of negligent homicide and one count of reckless conduct. The charges stemmed from a June 21, 2019, crash in Randolph, N.H., that killed seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, an organization of Marine Corps veterans and their spouses.

Zhukovskyy’s attorney has asked for asylum for his client, who came to the U.S. when he was 10 years old. His lawyers say he has permanent residency status. However, on Feb. 3, the immigration judge ordered Zhukovskyy’s removal, according to the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

???
 

The reason for the deportation is not related to the accident though I am sure it highlighted his prior criminal history. He is now seeking asylum...Why in God's name would we ever offer asylum to someone with this kind of prior criminal record????... From WMUR...

"While Zhukovskyy was found not guilty on all counts in the Randolph crash case, officials previously told WMUR he has multiple prior convictions in other cases, including possession of cocaine and heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension, furnishing false information to an officer and larceny."

Dan

I had to laugh
 

We are concerned about the deportation of one criminal, while we are willingly allowing millions of illegals to enter our country, many of which are criminals. At this point, given our lack of enforcing immigration laws, who cares about this one dirt bag. Let him stay in the U.S. and enjoy the American dream. To me he's as much deserving as the other illegals.

The Hidden Chaos Out There...
 

Zhukovskyy's truck could be shown to have been "on his side of the center line", but where was the trailer? In an over-reaction, the trailer had whip-sawed across the center line and carried away the stream of bikers. (Even empty, these car-carrier trailers are long and heavy).

As for violations, the Bay State perpetrator over at Long Lake had a traffic record of 20 convictions before he ran over two stargazing boaters. :eek2:

How about this week's driver with 164 traffic violations, before he killed a teen on her way to school? How could he drive down public streets without a driver's license--for thirty years? :eek:

We should demand more of our Justice system: Judges should be held to account.

I'm automatically excused from jury duty--that should be changed, too.

The judge didn't decide innocence... the jury did.

I would not normally pry, but since you brought it up--why?

In my case I am excused due to age (70 or over). APS may have other disqualifying factors 😎

The jury receives detailed "instructions" from the judge--who allow themselves a great deal of latitude.

One can "pry" here:

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/member.php?u=1199

:look:

The detailed instructions are to avoid bias.
You're just unhappy with the outcome... something that can be said of at least someone after every decision.

I can't believe this thread is still drawing attention?

On the same day, Tuesday, August 9, 2022 as the 'not guilty' verdicts were issued, Gov Chris Sununu ....... http://www.governor.nh.gov/news-and-...ukovskyy-trial ...... issued his opinion on the verdicts.

And, the NH Attorney General made a similar comment.

You know there is no video of the collisons. Is possible for the pickup truck to avoid a collision while the long, heavy trailer crossed the center line because it would swing to the left on a different turning radius than the pickup turning to the right. An unloaded trailer can wander off track if its wheels are not in alignment or have low air pressure on one side, or something.

The Governor and I...
 

Quoting Governor Sununu on the verdict:

“The Fallen Seven did not receive justice today, and that is an absolute tragedy,” said Governor Chris Sununu. 'I share in the shock, outrage, and anger that so many have expressed in the three years since the seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club were taken from us. My heart goes out to their families, friends, and loved ones on this especially dark day.' ”

:fire:

Being the Governor does not make his opinion any more valid.

The only opinion that matters is the members of the jury.

Yes, but his same day as the verdict, Aug 9, 2022 press release statement ... http://www.governor.nh.gov/news-and-...ukovskyy-trial has a very happening photo of the Mt Washington-6288' summit sign that sort of makes it seem like its an opinion coming from way high up in the sky, or something.

This Mt Washington summit sign is located about seven miles north from the location of the deadly and tragic collision, way down below on Rt 2 in Randolph NH.

That may have been a politically expedient thing for the governor to say but it concerns me that he may think his opinion as governor should be given more weight than the decision of the jury.

It certainly is bad form for the head of the state's executive branch to flame the jury who were part of the judicial branch.

Hello separation of powers...

License hearing
 

Man acquitted in New Hampshire motorcycle crash that killed 7 set to appear at hearing about driver's license.

"Outcome of the trial aside, past history and very recent past history would say to me that this guy doesn't doesn't need to be on the road. The roads are dangerous enough as it is," said Manny Ribeiro, former president of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club

https://www.wmur.com/article/volodym...cense/46116686

Well isn't this the case that just keeps going on and on and on.......I think the question that should first be asked, is does he have a NH Driver's license? If he does great wonderful, and the outcome of this could be enforceable by the court. However if he driver's license is from out of state, and the case is built upon circumstantial evidence, it will be hard to request another state revoke his license, based on a NH court ruling after the same court system ruled him not to be at fault for the accident....

Anyways just my 2 cents, this seems to be very politically motivated.... ICE has already declared that he is to be deported.... which will happen eventually.... but what the hell its just tax payers money getting wasted... so who care right/

Last I heard is that 27-year old Volodymyr Zhukovskyy is held in a prison, somewhere in Pennsylvania. So, he's been incarcerated since that Friday morning, June 21, 2019, when the Randolph NH collision with seven deaths occurred.

He was acquitted on February 9, 2023 in a Concord NH court.

Is unknown if eventually he gets deported to Ukraine.

He had been living in Springfield, Massachusetts since age-10

As a 27-year old he would quickly get conscripted into the Ukraine military to fight the Russian invaders.

His name Volodymyr Zhukovskyy is somewhat similar to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, age 45, President of Ukraine.

Whether he speaks Ukraine or knows only American language, at age-27 Volodymyr Zhukovskyy will very quickly get placed into the Ukraine military as soon as he arrives to Ukraine, is a safe bet.

"Hearing delayed ........"
 

Back in the WMUR news, Jan 5, 2024: http://www.wmur.com/article/hearing-...leges/46299295

His attorney makes what seems like a strong argument: "Mr Zhukovskyy was, in fact, in his lane, and that the lead motorcycle came across the center lane at him, and his reaction was to jam on his brakes, a natural reaction in a situation such as that,"

Restore License Hearing
 

Zhukovskyy had admitted having taken a mixture of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl at 8 a.m. on the day of the fatal crash.

Sure, get him back on the road. What could possibly go wrong?

Zhukovskyy is also awaiting deportation to his native country Ukraine. But deportations to that country have been suspended because of the armed conflict there with Russia, which ICE officials say prevents them from safely returning individuals to the country.

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...567a9f29c.html

State of New Hampshire v. Volodymyr Zhukovskyy ...... http://www.courts.nh.gov/media/reque...myr-zhukovskyy ..... (CASE CLOSED)

August 9, 2022, 3-pm, at the court house in Lancaster N.H., " It took the jury about two hours to reach a verdict on the 15 charges Volodymyr Zhukovskyy faced."

"Zhukovskyy faced seven counts of manslaughter and seven counts of negligent homicide, in addition to a charge of reckless conduct. He was found not guilty on all charges."

http://www.wmur.com/article/randolph...rdict/40850159

Was he driving a large, old Ford pick-up truck with four wheels with Massachusetts plates and towing a goose neck trailer capable to carry three vehicles that was empty at the time of the collision on June 21, 2019 in Randolph NH on Route 2, heading west or what?

There is no video that shows the collision happening between the pick-up truck and the motorcycles. Motorcycles are supposedly 28-times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash .... www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_safety ..... than an automobile which makes motorcycles a heck of a lot more dangerous for their driver and rider than for people in a car or truck.

What if instead of being yet another American junky he wanted to return to Ukraine to fight the Russians?

Were he to offer to "take the risks:" would they let him go, e.g. fly him to Poland and let him figure out the rest of it?

Poor Forensics...
 

I haven't made a visit to the crash/crime scene, but recent pictures show the roadway curving around a hillside.

I think what happened was Zhukovskyy entered the curve driving too fast. (While towing a long and heavy--but empty--trailer behind him).

The curve is on a descending hillside, so the speeding trailer slid out sideways into the opposite lane. :( Zhukovskyy slowed, which skidded the trailer into an even worse angle for the victims! :eek:

In attempting to recover the swinging trailer, Zhukovskyy steered right so his (combined) inertia caused his truck to climb the steep hillside to a hard stop.

Zhukovskyy admitted going back to his truck to recover an unnamed "something". The truck caught fire and Zhukovskyy promptly admitted to witnesses that the crash was his fault.

:eek2:

Conclusion:

The collision with the lead motorcycle was a "dynamic" one: Which means, the truck's left front tire could very well have been "on the line", but the truck (with trailer still attached) steered itself steeply uphill and totally off the road.

IMHO...

The Boston Herald has today's demand, made by Zhukovskyy s lawyer, that Zhukovskyy's driving privileges be restored in New Hampshire.

:confused:

Betcha the judge says he loses his driving license in NH, be it a CDL or car license, for seven years with his five years since June 21, 2019 subtracted as time incarcerated so it will be for two more years.

Without a NH driving license, one can realistically pedal a bicycle, ride an e-bike, walk, take a taxi, get a ride with a friend or family, hitch-hike or use the local bus as a way to get around.

'Think I Know Why...
 

It isn't every day a truck driver gets up at 8:00-AM, takes cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and drives with a suspended CDL, takes an afternoon spin on a NH back road, and neglectfully kills seven motorcyclists.

Speaking remotely from a Pennsylvania prison, Zhukovskyy says he's been "clean" for five years. :rolleye1:

Fortunately, a NH hearing administrative judge has much more discretion than a judge in NH's Criminal Courts. (Proof of guilt has a much lower threshold here).

FLL's guess of only two years before granting a new-to-Zhukovskyy NH drivers license is unlikely.

Why doesn't Zhukovskyy apply for a drivers license from Connecticut, Pennsylvania or his home state of Massachusetts?

:rolleye2:

BTW:
Zhukovskyy's lawyer asked for "A Moment of Silence" in memory of the fallen motorcyclists, whereupon the crash survivors walked out of the hearing.

Did the lawyer not know in advance the results of his action? Lawyers are supposed to!

....... stuff happens while driving?
 

Riding/driving a motorcycle is supposedly 28-times ..... www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_safety ..... more deadly than driving a car, and Zhukovskyy's vehicle was a large pick-up truck towing a large trailer capable to hold three cars which requires him to have a commercial driver's license.

It's not a perfect world out there driving New Hampshire ..... collisions and accidents happen due to speeding, the weather, the road conditions, texting, drinking, doing drugs, being tired and sleepy and simply not paying enough attention to DRIVING.

There is no video of this collision between the pick-up truck and the five motorcycles. All that separates the two while driving US Route 2 in Randolph NH on June 21, 2019 in opposite directions was the center white line that's about six inches wide which is not very much.

Stuff happens ...... which is the safer vehicle for their driver and occupants, a large pick-up truck or a large motorcycle for surviving a head-on collision?

He did have a Massachusetts CDL. You can only hold a license in one state. New Hampshire can suspend his "Right to operate" in the state but action on his license is up to Massachusetts.

Many states will take action on a license when an incident occurs in another state. Because of many prior charges in other states license suspension or revocation should have happened in Massachusetts prior to the Randolph, NH accident. Given his history he may have continued to drive regardless of any suspension.

The head of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, Erin Deveny, resigned after learning Zhukovskyy's license should have been suspended following the OUI charge in Connecticut.