Fatal N.H. Crash Results in Charges

A crash on Interstate 93 last year that killed four members of a family--including an 11-year-old Camarillo child--resulted Wednesday in charges against a truck driver and his employer.

Prosecutor Bill Hart said he believes C & J Trucking Co. Inc. of Hooksett is the first company ever charged with manslaughter in New Hampshire.

A grand jury returned four manslaughter indictments against the company and four negligent homicide indictments against the company and truck driver Frank Rzasa, 29, of Derry.

Rzasa was driving a 10-wheel truck Aug. 2 that hit a car occupied by three members of a Massachusetts family and a young relative visiting from California. The four, who all died, were Patricia Picardo, 46, of Melrose, Mass.; her mother, Kathleen Sullivan, 75, of Stoneham, Mass.; Picardo’s daughter, Amanda Picardo, 12; and Amanda’s cousin, Colin Waunch, 11, of Camarillo.

The negligent homicide charge against both the company and driver alleges that the truck was overweight and that the driver had worked excessive hours and was driving at excessive speed. The indictment alleges the company should have known of the risk through its supervision of the driver.

If the company is convicted, it could be fined $100,000 on each of eight counts. The driver faces a maximum sentence of 3 1/2 to seven years on each count.