Aaron Perry remembered for his wit, his compassion and his love of live

A gorgeous view of the white mountains frames a solemn memorial to the seven killed; inset, Aaron Perry and girlfriend Desma Oakes, who both died in the crash. (Courtesy photos)

Kristy Frye of Farmington said two days after Aaron Perry along with six others died in a horrific motorcycle crash in Northern New Hampshire, she traveled to the scene of the devastation with a group of friends to pay homage to the man who possessed "the biggest smile you'll ever see."

But Frye, who went there to pay her respects and erect a memorial for the former Marine, could never have prepared herself for what happened next.

"As we were standing there, I walked to a spot where some blue paint was spray painted and said, 'This is where it's going to go,'" she said in a phone interview today. "Then a (police) officer came over and said to me, 'This is where Aaron died.' I literally fell to the ground."

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy looks at his defense counsel during Sunday's arraignment on fugitive from justice charges in Massachusetts. (Masslive.com photo)

Meanwhile, the driver of the pickup truck, who has been charged with seven counts of negligent homicide will be arraigned in a Coos County courtroom this afternoon.

Massachusetts State Police arrested Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 23, at his home in West Springfield, Mass., around 8 a.m. on Monday. Police say they found what they suspect is heroin residue during his arrest.

Meanwhile, Frye said the scene on Sunday - amid the beauty of the White Mountains on a gorgeous summer's day - was incredibly emotional.

"People were just walking around hugging each other," she said.

Perry, a father of three who recently became a grandfather to a baby girl, died on Friday when a group of motorcyclists with the Marines Jarheads MC collided with a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck on Route 2 in Randolph.

On board Perry's bike was his girlfriend he'd recently met, Desma Oakes, 42, of Concord, who also died in the crash.

The other victims were identified as Michael Ferazzi, 62, of Contoocook, Albert Mazza, 59, of Lee, Daniel Pereira, 58, of Riverside, R.I. and Joanne and Edward Corr, both 58, of Lakeville, Mass.

Frye said Perry, who suffered from PTSD from his military service, was thrilled with his new girlfriend who had brought back so much love back into his life. She said the two began dating in April.

Oakes, who worked at PCC Structurals in Tilton, had just watched her son graduate from Concord High earlier this month, Frye said.

PCC Structurals said in a statement, "Our hearts go out to the Oakes family and their friends during this time of devastating loss. Desma was a phenomenal team member who was adored by her peers and colleagues."

Frye said she'd known Perry since she was 12, having grown up on Chestnut Hill Road in Farmington just two miles from his house.

She said he'd moved to California, but returned to Farmington about six or seven years ago where he'd become part of a tight-knit group of friends.

"We called ourselves "The Milton Crew," she said. "We'd met when we were younger and were always together."

She said Perry, who went to high school at Spaulding, was the one who kept the crew amused.

"He always had a smart-ass comment no matter what the situation, he always had us laughing," said Frye.

She called Perry an All-American brother, who was "there for me and his friends, day or night."

She said Perry loved to work on cars and did it often with another member of the Milton Crew, Tony Ryder, who owns a garage - Triple R Complete - in Rollinsford.

"Aaron would help you out anytime, he fix your car," she said. "He was always down at that garage."

Perry was also a longtime Milton Moose member and enjoyed playing in the club's pool tournaments, recalled Moose member Bonnie Brown.

"Aaron enjoyed everything he did, he enjoyed life and being back home," Frye added.

A Jarhead MC memorial ride to Randolph is set for July 6. Frye said more information about the ride can be found on Facebook.