May 29, 2007 11:35 pm US/Eastern
Driver In Deadly Chase Arraigned In Hospital
SOMERVILLE (WBZ) ―
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State police were chasing the SUV moments before it crashed into the taxi in Somerville.
WBZ
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Paul Farris was a Tufts University graduate.
WBZ
A Somerville man was arraigned in his hospital bed Tuesday afternoon, two days after he allegedly led police on a high-speed chase that ended when his SUV crashed into a taxi and killed a man.
Prosecutors say Javier Morales, 29, was being chased by state police early Sunday morning when his SUV collided with the taxi in Somerville.
Paul Farris, 23, of Medford was killed. He was a passenger in the cab. The Tufts University grad was the lead singer in a Boston-based rock band and was planning to attend law school.
Farris' girlfriend, Katelyne Hoyt, and the cab driver, Walid Chahine, suffered serious injuries in the crash. Both are listed in critical condition at Mass General Hospital.
Morales is also being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital. He pleaded not guilty to several charges including motor vehicle homicide during his arraignment and was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail. He is due in Somerville District Court on June 29th.
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone wants to know why State Police continued the chase through some fairly crowded neighborhoods.
"Mr. Morales bears the ultimate responsibility...but this is the most densely populated city in New England, a high speed chase in a thickly settled neighborhood is alarming," said Curtatone.
In a statement, state police said the circumstances surrounding the accident remain under investigation and it would be "premature" to speculate on how or why it happened.
According to State Police guidelines, a pursuit may be called off when it proceeds into densely populated areas. You can read the
full guidelines here.
The Farris family has set up a
memorial Web site for Paul.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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