WEST SPRINGFIELD – Bilal Griffith, 29, of West Springfield, was arraigned Friday in Springfield District Court on three counts of manslaughter and one count of leaving the scene of personal injury and death in connection with a crash that killed three construction workers on I-91 North, Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni announced today.
The crash occurred around 12:50 a.m. on Friday, March 28, near the Exit 10A ramp to Riverdale Street, where a crew was working on guardrail repairs. According to authorities, a vehicle failed to stay on the ramp and struck the workers, killing all three.
“The operator failed to maintain the confines of the ramp, crashing into the guardrail where the crew was working,” Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said in a statement. “Three crew members were struck, and all succumbed to their injuries.”
The victims were identified as Igor Costa, 26, of Marlborough, and Ryan Almeida, 48, and Raul Bohorquez, 57, both of Brockton.
The driver fled on foot. State Police determined the vehicle belonged to Griffith following an RMV inquiry. A search was launched involving the State Police Air Wing, K-9 units, and local officers. Hours into the search, a sergeant from the Hampden District Attorney’s Office spotted the suspect, Griffith, and spoke to him briefly before he took off again.
“After a brief conversation, a chase ensued that continued for over a half mile,” Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said. “The suspect was finally surrounded and taken into custody in the area of Morgan Road in West Springfield.”
Griffith was ordered held on $1 million cash bail. A bail hearing is scheduled for April 2.
The investigation remains ongoing by the Massachusetts State Police Detectives Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office and the West Springfield Police Department.
Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni offered his condolences to the victims’ families.