Accused Drunk Driver Charged In Pembroke Crash That Killed 13-Year-Old Girl

PLYMOUTH (CBS) - An accused drunk driver has been charged with manslaughter, a day after a crash that killed a 13-year-old girl and injured two other people in Pembroke.

Gregory Goodsell, 31, of Marshfield, pleaded not guilty to the upgraded charge Monday at his arraignment in Plymouth District Court. He also faces several other charges, including OUI and speeding, related to Sunday's crash. He was ordered held without bail.

Police said Goodsell was driving drunk in a Hi-Way Safety Systems pickup truck around 7 a.m. on Route 139 when he blew through a red light at more than 70 miles an hour and slammed into a Subaru near Oak Street.

The crash killed 13-year-old Claire Zisserson. "She was always in the backseat giggling with her friends, just being a fun-loving person, laughing," said Jake McPherson, Claire's friend.

It's an unimaginable loss for Claire's family and classmates. "It makes me very angry at the person in question," Jake said. "He should not be allowed to walk free."

Claire's mother, and her friend, 13-year-old Kendall Zemotel, were also pulled from the wreckage. Both are clinging to life at the hospital.

The girls are eighth-grade students at Rising Tide Charter Public School in Plymouth, which issued a statement informing parents that the school would have a Crisis Response Team available for students.

"We are heartbroken by this tragic event, and I ask for help from everyone in the Rising Tide family to pull together to support our two 8th grade families and all of our children," said Head of School Michael O'Keefe.

Goodsell was arrested immediately after the crash. According to the prosecutor in court Monday, Goodsell told an officer at the scene, "I'm so f---d up, I know I shouldn't have been driving. I can't believe I did this. I drank way too much. I'm so sorry."

Goodsell said he was coming from his company Christmas party at his boss' house and had also used cocaine before the crash, according to the prosecutor. Police said they found a half-empty bottle of whiskey and an empty beer can in Goodsell's truck.

Goodsell's employer, Hi-Way Safety Systems Inc., is a prime and a subcontractor on a number of active contracts with the state's Department of Transportation.

"We are saddened by this tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim. MassDOT is extremely disappointed to learn of the circumstances surrounding this incident. We require that all of our contractors adhere to strict standards of safety and we are conducting a review into the status of Hi-Way Safety Systems Inc. with regard to active MassDOT contracts," MassDOT said in a statement.

"It was an incredibly horrific scene. It was an incredibly gruesome scene," Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said after the arraignment. "The worst thing of all is that it was 100-percent avoidable."

"He's a good kid, he just screwed up, he knows it," Goodsell's father Jay said outside of court. "This was a company Christmas party that obviously got out of hand."

"I assure you my son feels terrible," he told reporters, adding that Gregory Goodsell is the father of a 21-month-old daughter.

No one has been charged under the Social Host Liability Law, but authorities are investigating the possibility.

Goodsell, whose driving record includes three previous suspensions, is due back in court for a dangerousness hearing January 3.

A GoFundMe for Claire Zisserson has raised more than $45,000, a gesture her friend hopes will show both families that the community is rallying behind them. "For them to just know that they have people to support them I think is really good," said Jake McPherson.