BOSTON, Nov. 14, 2014—A March trial date has been set for a West Roxbury man charged with causing a motor vehicle crash last year that injured five people, two of them very seriously.

West Roxbury Municipal Court Judge Mary Ann Driscoll scheduled the trial of NIKOLAS PAPADOPOULOS (D.O.B. 4/8/95) for March 3, 2015. Papadopoulos is charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle in connection with the Sept. 6, 2013, crash on the Arborway. The trial will be held in Brighton Municipal Court because of expected roadway construction near the West Roxbury courthouse.

Papadopoulos was operating a 2003 Mazda Tribute westbound on the Arborway at approximately 2:00 p.m. on the date of the crash. Also in the vehicle were three younger passengers: a 14-year-old from Chestnut Hill, another 14-year-old from West Roxbury, and a 15-year-old also from West Roxbury.  Prosecutors say Papadopoulos was travelling well over the speed limit when his vehicle crossed the center line and crashed into a 2004 Ford F-150 pickup truck.

The truck’s driver, a 33-year-old Dorchester man, suffered life-altering injuries.  His passenger, a 34-year-old Quincy man, suffered less serious injuries.

One of Papadopoulos’ 14-year-old passengers suffered a life-altering brain injury after being ejected from the vehicle; the other 14-year-old passenger was seriously injured.  Neither was wearing his seatbelt.  The 15-year-old passenger suffered less serious injuries.  Papadopoulos, who had to be extricated from the SUV, was also injured in the crash.

Assistant District Attorney Montez Haywood of the DA’s Major Felony Bureau is prosecuting the case.  Kara Hayes is the assigned victim-witness advocate.  Papadopoulos is represented by attorney Robert Tobin.

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

Jake Wark