GREENFIELD — A Rhode Island man accused of hospitalizing seven motorcyclists while driving under the influence of drugs on Route 10 in Northfield last spring is still being held on $100,000 bail, Judge Michael Callan reaffirmed on Monday.

Ryan T. O’Farrell, 32, of Westerly, Rhode Island, faces 18 charges related to the May 29 incident. His attorney, Jeanne Early, entered on his behalf not guilty pleas to one count of operating under the influence of drugs, five counts of operating under the influence of drugs causing serious bodily injury, two counts of child endangerment while operating under the influence, three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, five counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, one count of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and one count of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

O’Farrell had been arraigned on 23 charges in Greenfield District Court in late May, when he was ordered held without bail, though Judge William Mazanec III set bail at $100,000 cash or $500,000 surety should conditions change allowing for bail. However, O’Farrell’s case was transferred to Franklin County Superior Court due to its severity. He had previously appeared in Superior Court in early June, when Judge Jane Mulqueen took under advisement the attorneys’ bail arguments. O’Farrell appeared before Callan on Monday.

According to authorities, O’Farrell was driving south on Route 10 near 272 Main St. in Northfield in an SUV that was pulling a trailer carrying a motorcycle at roughly 1 p.m. on May 29 when he crossed the center line and smashed into five motorcycles that were heading north in the oncoming lane. Nine motorcyclists were traveling together as part of a Connecticut motorcycle club. Chief Trial Counsel Jeremy Bucci, who is prosecuting the case for the state, told Callan on Monday that the riders suffered “catastrophic injuries.” He explained one woman had her leg amputated, and one man needed his right arm fused and later amputated.

“Several of them will never work again,” he said, adding that motorcycle riders have “nothing other than a helmet to protect them.”

Bucci requested the $100,000 bail. Early argued bail in that amount constitutes her client essentially being held without the right to bail. She said O’Farrell would reside with a friend in Rhode Island if he makes bail.

“My client could not be more remorseful,” Early said of the incident.

She also noted that O’Farrell was not tested for opioid use following the May crash.

Bucci previously explained O’Farrell was leaving a motocross event with his 10-year-old stepson and that boy’s 13-year-old friend when he stopped at a gas station and the 13-year-old noticed O’Farrell in possession of a white powder, which Bucci described as a “a telltale sign of heroin or cocaine.” The 13-year-old reportedly told authorities that within minutes of leaving the gas station, O’Farrell began “nodding out.” Bucci previously said the 13-year-old was asked how he knew the term “nodding out,” and the teen responded that his own father struggles with heroin addiction.

The 13-year-old, according to Bucci, suffered two black eyes in the crash while O’Farrell’s stepson was “badly bruised.” The boys were taken to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in Vermont for evaluation and released.

O’Farrell is due back in court on Nov. 2 for a pretrial hearing.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.

]]>