A commercial truck driver, Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, who was acquitted of causing the deaths of seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire, testified at a hearing to reinstate his suspended license. The 2019 crash in Randolph killed seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club. Zhukovskyy, who had taken heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine the day of the crash, had his Massachusetts license automatically suspended in New Hampshire after his arrest. Despite his acquittal, prosecutors argued that Zhukovskyy still played a role in the accident.
During the hearing, Zhukovskyy testified that he initially thought he was the one who caused the accident based on his interviews with the police at the time. His trial lawyers argued that there was no evidence of impairment at the time of the crash and that the lead biker involved was drunk and not paying attention. The decision to reinstate Zhukovskyy’s license would depend on whether it is determined that he drove in an unlawful and reckless manner that materially contributed to the accident, as per state law.
One former Jarheads member who was injured in the crash spoke out against restoring Zhukovskyy’s license, expressing concerns about public safety. The manslaughter acquittal at the time drew criticism from Governor Chris Sununu and Attorney General John Formella, who believed the state had proven its case. Zhukovskyy’s attorney argued that he responded quickly when he saw the motorcycle coming in his direction and applied his brakes, denying that he caused the crash. However, a lawyer for the state Department of Safety challenged this account based on expert reports.
David Hilts, an attorney for the state Department of Safety, questioned Zhukovskyy extensively about his drug use and prior accidents he was involved in. He alleged that Zhukovskyy and the lead biker, Albert “Woody” Mazza Jr., both contributed to the crash. Mazza had a blood-alcohol level well above the legal limit at the time of the accident. Despite having his license suspended in Connecticut prior to the crash, Zhukovskyy’s license was not suspended due to a backlog of out-of-state notifications about driving offenses. The Connecticut case against Zhukovskyy is still pending.
Following his acquittal, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Zhukovskyy citing previous convictions for drug possession, driving with a suspended license, furnishing false information, and larceny. His immigration attorney requested asylum for him, but in February 2023, a judge ordered his deportation. However, it is uncertain how he could be deported to a country at war with Russia. The U.S. has paused repatriation flights to Ukraine and authorized Temporary Protected Status for qualified Ukrainians, creating uncertainty about Zhukovskyy’s future.
