Former Somerset man accused in alleged OUI crash that killed 3 back in court

FALL RIVER — Adam Gauthier, a former Somerset man accused of operating a 2023 Range Rover SUV drunk going the wrong way on Veterans’ Memorial on Christmas night and killing three members of a Seekonk family was back in court on Friday.

Killed in the accident were Jacoby Arruda, 15, and his grandparents, Floriano Arruda, 73, and Donna Arruda, 68.

Gauthier, 41, was indicted in March by a Bristol County Superior Court grand jury on three counts of manslaughter while operating under the influence and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Gauthier appeared in person at the brief hearing in Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River with his defense attorney, Kevin Reddington.

As they have in a handful of court hearings since the tragic crash, about a dozen family members of the Arrudas were also in the courtroom.

OUI charges: Police say grandfather and grandson killed by drunken driver in head-on crash on Christmas

Gauthier, who has been free since shortly after the accident on $100,000 cash bail, does not have a trial date yet.

Bristol County First Assistant District Attorney Karen O’Sullivan told the judge that most of the discovery has been submitted to the defense.

But comments during the hearing by Reddington and O’Sullivan indicate the case may not go as far as a jury trial.

“So we’ve been talking to see if there is a possible resolution,” said Reddington.

Fatal Christmas night crash: Gauthier pleads not guilty to drunk driving manslaughter charges

If not, he suggested that the judge set a motion hearing and set a trial date.

Judge Susan E. Sullivan set a motion hearing for Oct. 28.

Joint funerals held for the Arrudas

After the devastating Christmas night accident, the injured Arruda family was rushed to the hospital.

Jacoby Arruda died that night at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. His grandfather died the next day at Rhode Island Hospital; his grandmother died from her injuries a few days later on Dec. 29.

A joint funeral for the family members was held on Jan. 5 at the St. John of God Church in Somerset.

'I wish we had more time' Family is devastated after Christmas crash that left 3 dead

Gauthier suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He initially was arraigned from his hospital bed at New Bedford’s St. Luke’s Hospital the day after the crash for the death of Jacoby and Floriano.

He was later transferred to Bristol County House of Correction and released on the $100,000 cash bail.

At an arraignment in Fall River District Court for the death of Donna Arruda, Gauthier appeared in court on crutches and wearing a medical boot.

Civil lawsuit filed

The family of the Arrudas filed a civil lawsuit in March in Bristol County Superior Court. The civil case is pending.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Former Somerset man accused in alleged OUI crash that killed 3 back in court