by J.D. O’Gara

Last month, the Franklin community came together in a roadside vigil to honor the lives lost of 5-year-old Krisha Atulkumar Patel and her mother, Minaben Patel, 38, after a May 24th car crash in Franklin. The two had been passengers in a car driven by Atulkumar Patel, along with Krisha’s brother, Kunj, who also suffered injuries in the crash. Krisha was lost the night of the accident, and her mother succumbed to her injuries nine days later.

The car was struck by a truck driven by James Blanchard, 21, of Franklin, who was charged with motor vehicle homicide while OUI; two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor causing serious bodily injury; driving to endanger; and possession of an open container of liquor. At press time, Blanchard was set to be arraigned at Wrentham District Court on June 24th.