Massachusetts girl, 13, killed in suspected drunken driving crash identified

PEMBROKE, Mass. — The 13-year-old girl killed in a suspected drunken driving crash that left two others injured Sunday in Pembroke has been identified as Claire Zisserson, according to WFXT.

Zisserson died in the crash around 7 a.m. Sunday on Route 139 at Church and Oak streets. Kendall Zemotel, also 13, and an unnamed 50-year-old woman remained in critical condition after the crash, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz told WFXT. Plymouth Selectwoman Betty Cavacco has set up a GoFundMe account to help Zemotel and her family.

A GoFundMe account has also been set up for the Zisserson family.

Gregory Goodsell, 31, of Marshfield, was arrested after the crash and sent to South Shore Hospital for evaluation. He pleaded not guilty Monday to charges including operating a motor vehicle under the influence causing death, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor causing serious injury and negligent driving. A judge ordered he be held without bail. A dangerousness hearing is set for Friday.

Goodsell is an employee of Hi-Way Safety Systems of Rockland, a Massachusetts Department of Transportation contractor, according to WFXT. In a statement, MassDOT officials told WFXT that Hi-Way Safety Systems is used as “both a prime and a subcontractor on a number of active MassDOT contracts predominantly providing signage, pavement markings, and traffic control.”

“We are saddened by this tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim,” a spokesperson for the department told WFXT. "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.”

Goodsell told police he was coming from a company Christmas party at his boss’s home when the crash occurred.

“Our thoughts and prayers go to the family who has suffered a terrible tragedy and a tremendous loss," an attorney for Hi-Way Safety Systems said in a statement to WFXT. "I will be working to gather the facts once I am available to do so. The Corporation is cooperating with, and will continue cooperating with, the authorities.”

Goodsell’s father told WFXT the Hi-Way Safety company party was held Saturday night at the Knights of Columbus in Pembroke. Cruz said the holiday party and what was served during it are also under investigation.

Sources told WFXT that police are also investigating the death of a man who attended the same party as Gregory Goodsell. An attorney for Hi-Way Safety confirmed Monday night that the company is looking into the death of an employee at a Rockland motel.

In a statement released Tuesday, Rockland police said they were investigating the death of 41-year-old Joseph Amaral, who was found unresponsive around 8 a.m. Sunday at a Comfort Inn motel on Hingham Street. His cause of death was not immediately clear. Authorities said Monday that it was too soon to tell whether the death might be connected to the Hi-Way Safety company party.

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles has suspended Goodsell’s license indefinitely as an “immediate threat,” WFXT reported. According to his driving record, he’s been cited three times for speeding and for two other crashes since 2006.

“It was an incredibly gruesome scene," Cruz said of Sunday’s crash. "And the worst thing of all is it was 100 percent avoidable.”

According to court documents, Claire, Kendall and the unidentified 50-year-old woman were in a Subaru that sustained heavy damage to the passenger side, while Goodsell drove a Ford truck that had heavy front-end damage.

When an officer arrived at the scene of the crash, Goodsell was slurring his speech, smelled of alcohol and had glassy, bloodshot eyes, according to court documents.

"I know I shouldn't have been driving," he told police, according to court records. "I can't believe I did this. … I drank way too much, I'm so sorry."

He also admitted to using cocaine Saturday night and into the early morning hours before driving, records show.

Authorities placed him under arrest and assisted him to the police cruiser, as he was unable to walk on his own, according to documents. A half-empty bottle of Jameson whiskey was found on the rear seat of Goodsell’s truck, along with an empty beer can, according to documents.

Witnesses told authorities they saw Goodsell driving at a high speed, passing cars, driving through red lights and swerving. One witness said they saw Goodsell “traveling at the speed of lightning.”

“He’s got a 21-month-old daughter,” Goodsell’s father, Jay Goodsell, told WFXT. “He’s a good kid. He just screwed up. He knows it.”

The Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.

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