Driver Convicted in Drunk Driving Crash that Injured Passenger

BOSTON, July 13, 2017— A Watertown woman was found guilty yesterday of driving drunk when she caused the crash that left her passenger with permanent injuries, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

A Brighton Municipal Court jury yesterday found ROZA GRIGORYAN (D.O.B. 12/20/93) guilty of operating under the influence of alcohol in connection with the 2015 crash on Storrow Drive. She faces sentencing on Tuesday. Jurors acquitted Grigorian of causing serious bodily injury while operating under the influence.

During the course of the three-day trial, Assistant District Attorney Kristina Kerwin of the DA’s Major Felony Bureau presented evidence and testimony to prove that Grigoryan was behind the wheel of a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 16, 2015. Also in the vehicle was a then-23-year-old male passenger in the vehicle’s back seat.  A State Trooper stopped at a separate traffic incident observed the vehicle operating westbound on Storrow Drive at a high rate of speed and took down its license plate number.

Approximately one minute later, the Jeep struck the right guardrail and rode the guardrail for approximately 18 feet before launching into the abutment of the Weeks Footbridge. The Jeep came to a rest facing in the opposite direction of travel and burst into flames with both occupants trapped inside.  The nearby trooper arrived at scene and extinguished the flames.

The victim was transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in serious condition, with injuries that included a broken neck and head trauma. He awoke in the hospital three days later, unable to move.  He has since regained much but not all of his mobility.

Grigoryan was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with a broken femur.

State Police responding to the crash located several empty marijuana prescription bottles, a glass bong, and an open bottle of Jack Daniels inside the heavily damaged vehicle. Blood testing conducted at the hospital approximately one hour and 15 minutes after the crash indicated a blood alcohol level of .06, and testimony proved that Grigoryan smoked marijuana and consumed at least two to three alcoholic beverages at Cure Lounge prior to the crash.

Tamisha Civil is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Grigoryan is represented by Bill Concannon. She faces sentencing before Judge Debra Shopteese on Tuesday.

 

 

 

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.