Accidents, OUI, alleged drug use in suspect's recent past revealed

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy (East Windsor Police Department photo)

The Massachusetts man accused in the deaths of seven motorcyclists in Northern New Hampshire on Friday waived his arraignment on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to seven counts of negligent homicide as revelations of his suspect driving record and alleged drug use was revealed by prosecutors.

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 23, of West Springfield, is being held without bail at the Coos County House of Correction, jail personnel told The Rochester Voice today. A Boston TV station said Zhukovskyy , a Ukrainian, also had an ICE detainer placed on him.

Seven motorcyclists riding with the Marines Jarhead MC died some 500 feet from the Randolph motel they had just left en route to a local American Legion charity event Friday evening.

Police say Zhukovskyy was driving his pickup truck and car hauler trailer recklessly and over the yellow line when he lost control, which led to the fatal collision, said to be the worst group motorcycle fatality in recent history in the Granite State.

Among the dead were Aaron Perry, 45, of Farmington and his girlfriend, Desma Oakes, 42, of Concord, who was riding with him.

The other victims included 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.

Zhukovskyy's recent driving record shows he was involved in a rollover in Baytown, Texas, earlier this month and has had several brushes with the law involving drugs and drunken driving. Baytown Police said Zhukovskyy blamed the crash on another car he said swerved in front of him, but police never were able to confirm the presence of the other vehicle. In February, he was also arrested by Baytown Police on drug paraphernalia charges.

In May he was arrested for DUI in East Windsor, Conn.

Massachusetts State Police say they found what appeared to be heroin residue when they arrested him as a fugitive of justice at his home on Monday.

His negligent homicide trial in Coos County Superior Court is preliminarily set for November. Once he is released from jail or serves his time he will likely be deported back to Ukraine.