Mansfield Man Accused of Drunk Driving In Fatal Crash

MANSFIELD, MA—A Mansfield man is charged with hitting and killing a pedestrian who was standing outside his home in Sherborn.

According to a press release from the Middlesex Country District Attorney's Office, Joshua M. Patel, 37, was arraigned in Natick District Court on Thursday on the charges of motor vehicle homicide by operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, assault and battery, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, and a mark lanes violation.

Patel pleaded innocent to the charges and was held on $20,000 cash bail. Judge David Cunis also ordered him not to drive or consume alcohol, submit to random testing, and have no contact with the witnesses. His next court date is December 3.

The press release states that Sherborne Police responded to the fatal crash at Goulding Street East on November 4 at approximately 4:42 p.m. Kevin Sullivan, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene after being hit in his yard by Patel's Acura MDX. Patel was arrested and later taken to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester.

"The preliminary investigation suggests that Mr. Patel had allegedly been traveling eastbound on Goulding Street Easy at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his vehicle, exited the travel lane on the westbound side of the roadway and subsequently struck the victim on his lawn and continued across the lawn striking a vehicle that was parked," the press release says.

"Mr Patel allegedly tried to flee the scene, striking a witness prior to being restrained by witnesses to the crash. When the officers arrived, Mr. Patel was allegedly uncooperative and was allegedly displaying signs of impairment."