NORTHAMPTON – A 55-year-old Chicopee man pleaded guilty in Hampshire Superior Court on Tuesday on charges stemming from a fiery July 2017 car crash on Interstate 91 that sent him and another driver to the hospital with injuries.
Darryl Whitaker was sentenced to three years in state prison by Judge Richard Carey on two counts of destruction of property, one count of reckless driving, and one count of reckless assault and battery by means of his car, according to a statement from the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
Massachusetts State Police had determined Whitaker as the cause of the crash on Interstate 91 in Northampton in the morning of July 12, 2017, after fleeing state police at speeds approaching 100 mph, said Mary Carey, spokeswoman for the DA.
Police had attempted to stop Whitaker for prior warrants and driving violations.
On the day of the crash, Whitaker’s Mustang hit a tire deflation device near the Connecticut River Oxbow Marina, and he then continued to flee police until he struck a construction pickup truck, injuring the truck driver. He also hit a construction sign which landed on a pursuing police cruiser’s windshield, damaging the cruiser, Carey said.
Police had to pull an unconscious Whitaker from his car, which had burst into flames.
“The Massachusetts State Police are to be commended for yet another example of heroism and professionalism in the line of duty,” said First Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne, who prosecuted the case.
“Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured or killed by the defendant’s exceptionally reckless conduct.”