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Tragic Collision Unfolds in Worcester: Defense Claims Road Bump as Cause of Fatal Crash

By Jerry Filmore
March 13, 2024 3 Min Read
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In a gripping courtroom session at Worcester Superior Court, the legal battle unfolded for Mfouad A. Faris, a man facing manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges stemming from a fatal 2021 crash. Faris’ defense lawyer argued on Monday that the driver had struck a bump on the road, propelling him into an uncontrollable swerve.

The tragic incident, which occurred on Goldsberry Street around 2 a.m. on October 10, 2021, claimed the life of Jessica L. Simone, a 35-year-old passenger. Simone, a dedicated hairdresser at the time, was studying to become a radiology technician.

Faris collided with an oncoming car, ejecting Simone from the vehicle and into the parking lot of the nearby Worcester Police Department. Despite on-duty police officers rushing to provide first aid, Simone was pronounced dead at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

During the court proceedings, a 14-member jury observed photos depicting the aftermath of the crash, revealing Faris’ Mitsubishi Lancer with severe front-end damage and a Subaru sport utility vehicle with its front-end similarly affected.

Daniel Bennett, a special prosecutor from the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, alleged that Faris had been drag racing with Fares N. Shaikh-Omar, who also faces manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges. Surveillance video presented in court showed Shaikh-Omar’s white BMW 335 overtaking Faris as traffic lights turned green on Summer Street near Thomas Street.

The prosecution argued that Faris attempted to pass the white BMW in the wrong lane of travel on Goldsberry Street, which has a speed limit of 30 mph. Officer Keith Garlick, a Worcester police reconstructionist, stated that Faris’ Mitsubishi was traveling at an average of 53 mph, while Officer Thomas A. Feraco, also of the reconstruction team, calculated the speed at approximately 71 mph using tire tracks near the crash site.

Defense lawyer Steven Goldwyn challenged these figures, alleging flaws in the method used by the Police Department and citing incomplete information. Goldwyn contended in his opening statement that Faris had regained control of the car after traveling on the left lane and hitting a “big bump” on the road, which caused the vehicle to spin out of control and collide with a Subaru in the opposite lane.

Juliana Bahman, the driver of the Subaru, testified that she observed Faris’ car attempting to merge back into its lane at a significant speed, losing control, and entering her lane just before the crash.

City police officers who witnessed the accident described the sound as resembling “a bomb went off” and “an explosion.” Simone, tragically, was the daughter of Kevin Harkins, who disappeared from a Worcester pub in 1994, leading to three men being convicted of his murder.

In a recent development, two charges against Faris—reckless operation of a motor vehicle and racing a motor vehicle—were dropped last Thursday. The trial for manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges is set to resume with a site visit of the accident planned for jury members on Tuesday.

Judge William J. Ritter indicated on Monday that the trial is expected to conclude no later than Wednesday afternoon.

You may also like: Justice Prevails: Second Suspect Arrested in Worcester Double Homicide Case

About The Author

Jerry Filmore

Jerry Filmore is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of What’s Up Worcester News, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization community news outlet dedicated to informing, engaging, and empowering Worcester through accessible, accurate, and inclusive storytelling. With over a decade of experience in management, community organizing, and media production, Jerry leads with a passion for amplifying local voices and spotlighting the people, places, and stories that make Worcester Massachusetts thrive.
When he’s not producing new shows or organizing community initiatives like Woo CommuniTree or Worcester Voices: Community Awards & Celebration Night, you can find Jerry collaborating with local creatives, mentoring young reporters, and continuing to build bridges across Worcester’s neighborhoods.

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Jerry Filmore

Jerry Filmore is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of What’s Up Worcester News, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization community news outlet dedicated to informing, engaging, and empowering Worcester through accessible, accurate, and inclusive storytelling. With over a decade of experience in management, community organizing, and media production, Jerry leads with a passion for amplifying local voices and spotlighting the people, places, and stories that make Worcester Massachusetts thrive. When he’s not producing new shows or organizing community initiatives like Woo CommuniTree or Worcester Voices: Community Awards & Celebration Night, you can find Jerry collaborating with local creatives, mentoring young reporters, and continuing to build bridges across Worcester’s neighborhoods.

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