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Stuart A. Larkin, 65, of South Hadley, pleaded guilty to two counts of negligent motor vehicle homicide in the deaths on Northampton Road (Route 10) in Easthampton, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.
Northampton District Court Judge Jacklyn Connly said that Larkin showed remorse for the killings and had cooperated with investigators at every turn. For that, she sentenced him to a year in jail, but that would be suspended for five years while Larkin serves probation, the prosecutor said.
That means he will not see the wrong side of prison bars if he behaves during those five years.
Larkin must also complete 200 hours of community service "in honor of the victims and their family,” the judge told him. The couple were well-known volunteers for the Manna free meal program in Northampton.
Edward Hanlon Jr., 81, and Ilona L. Murray, 60, had stepped off a PVTA bus around 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 2, 2022, when Larkin crashed into them as they crossed the road. State police investigators determined that Larkin should have had enough time to see Hanlon and Murray and avoid hitting them, which is why he was charged, the prosecutor said.
Assistant District Attorney Matthew Thomas had asked the judge to send Larkin to prison for two years — one for each victim — in his sentencing recommendation memo.
While we understand Mr. Larkin feels badly for the killing of Mr. Hanlon and Ms. Murray and commend him for cooperating with the police during the initial stages of the investigation, we cannot ignore the loss felt by the family of the deceased and the loss to the community in general. The killing in this case, as is often the case in a negligent killing, was of good people by a good person.
Larkin sobbed as his attorney, Joseph Bernard of Springfield, explained the incident as a terrible accident that haunted his client. Larkin had faced as much as 30 years in prison.
A GoFundMe for the couple raised just over $4,000 of its $5,000 goal. Click here to learn more about the fundraiser.
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