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Driver Charged With Killing 2 In Western Mass Crash Pleads Not Guilty: DA

A 64-year-old Hampshire County man accused of killing a man and woman as they crossed the street in Easthampton last year pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday, April 3, authorities said. 

Edward O. Hanlon Jr., 81, and Ilona L. Murray, 60, were killed in August 2022 as they crossed Northampton Street in Easthampton near this Burger King, officials said. The driver Stuart Larkin was charged with their deaths.

Edward O. Hanlon Jr., 81, and Ilona L. Murray, 60, were killed in August 2022 as they crossed Northampton Street in Easthampton near this Burger King, officials said. The driver Stuart Larkin was charged with their deaths.

Photo Credit: Google Maps Street View/GoFundMe

Stuart Larkin, of South Hadley, faces up to five years in prison if convicted on two counts of negligent motor vehicle homicide and one count of speeding in connection with the August 2022 crash along Route 10, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. The charges are misdemeanors. 

Larkin is accused of crashing into Edward O. Hanlon Jr., 81, and Ilona L. Murray, 60, as they crossed Northampton Street near Burger King around 7:30 p.m. on August 22. Hanlon died at the scene, and paramedics rushed Murray to Baystate Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries, police said.

Larkin stayed after the crash and cooperated with police, officials said. 

Easthampton police and Massachusetts State troopers investigated the crash and determined that Larkin should have seen the pedestrians and been able to avoid them, the prosecutor said. 

Authorities charged Larkin last month. 

He will return to court for a pretrial hearing on June 12. 

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