New Hampshire's Dead 7 - When Every System Failed

How Drug Addiction, Corporate Fraud, and Bureaucratic Negligence Killed Seven Marines

What concerns me the most is that all three are free. Even the one found guilty of something served just two months. The insanity isn’t even that. It’s the fact that the driver was eligible to have his license returned, and he asked for it to be returned while he was allowed to be free on an immigration detainer. He remains free today.

New Hampshire State Police. 6:30 p.m. on June 21, 2019. A pickup truck towing a flatbed trailer had crossed the centerline on Route 2 in Randolph, obliterating a group of motorcyclists in a fireball that witnesses described as “like a bomb had gone off.” Seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, Marines, and their spouses lay dead or dying on the asphalt. The driver, 23-year-old Volodymyr Zhukovskyy of West Springfield, Massachusetts, stumbled from his burning truck screaming, “What did I do? Mommy. Mommy.”

What he did was become the weapon in a cascade of failures that turned predictable negligence into mass casualty. This was the inevitable result of a broken system where drug-addicted drivers, fraudulent trucking companies, and incompetent bureaucrats combined to create the perfect storm of death on America’s highways.

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy came to America from Ukraine when he was 10 years old, carrying his family’s immigrant dreams. By 23, he had become a daily heroin and cocaine user operating commercial vehicles across state lines. On the morning of the crash, he admitted to the Massachusetts State Police that he had consumed both substances. “Three or four bags of heroin a day,” he told investigators, acknowledging he could feel the cocaine’s effects after his last delivery but claiming he was “fine and okay to drive.”

The NTSB would later determine that while Zhukovskyy may not have been actively intoxicated at the moment of impact, he was likely experiencing withdrawal symptoms that impaired his ability to operate a 26,000-pound commercial vehicle safely. Witnesses reported seeing his truck swerving erratically before the crash. Multiple federal investigators testified that he had drugs, including opioids, in his system.

Zhukovskyy should never have been on the road that day. Six weeks earlier, on May 11, 2019, he had been arrested for driving under the influence in East Windsor, Connecticut, failing a sobriety test in a Walmart parking lot. Under federal regulations, this arrest should have immediately triggered the revocation of his commercial driver’s license.

Connecticut dutifully notified Massachusetts twice about the arrest. Those notifications disappeared into a bureaucratic black hole that had been growing for years at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, where tens of thousands of out-of-state violation notices sat unprocessed in boxes. The NTSB investigation would reveal similar backlogs in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and at least six other states, a national crisis hiding in plain sight until seven people died to expose it.

Westfield Transport Inc. of West Springfield operated like a criminal enterprise masquerading as a legitimate business. Owned by brothers Dunyadar “Damien” Gasanov and Dartanyan Gasanov, the company systematically falsified driver logs, tampered with electronic monitoring devices, and hired drivers they knew posed public safety risks.

The NTSB investigation showcased their history of fraud, with 150 driving logs reviewed, 28 had been falsified. The company instructed drivers to disconnect smartphones from electronic logging devices to avoid creating accurate records of driving time. When devices malfunctioned, as Zhukovskyy’s did on the day of the crash, drivers used paper logs that could be easily manipulated.

Most damning was Dunyadar Gasanov’s relationship with Zhukovskyy. Despite initially telling federal investigators he had only met the driver on the day he hired him, Gasanov had known Zhukovskyy for years and was fully aware of his history of drunk driving and substance abuse. The company hired him on June 19, 2019. Two days later, he killed seven people.

The NTSB discovered that Westfield Transport attempted to add Zhukovskyy to its insurance policy one hour after the crash, suggesting he may not have been adequately covered when operating their vehicle. The company closed immediately after the crash, but the Gasanov brothers couldn’t escape accountability. Dunyadar pleaded guilty to federal charges and was sentenced to two months in prison in November 2024. His brother Dartanyan pled not guilty in November 2024. I have found nothing since on his case. This wasn’t their only business, they had a network that included:

Primary Company

Westfield Transport Inc.

• Owners: Dartanyan Gasanov (President) & Dunyadar Gasanov (Supervisor)

• Business: Auto transport carrier

• Status: Closed immediately after June 21, 2019 crash

• Violations: Systematic falsification of driver logs, ELD tampering, hiring unqualified drivers

Westfield Transport Affiliated Companies

East Transport LLC

• Incorporated: November 26, 2018

• Relationship: “Owned by same principals, same address” as Westfield

• Status: Out of service, safety audit refusal

East2West Transport

• Started: August 22, 2019

• Relationship: Manager worked as driver at Westfield Transport; driver with suspended license at Westfield employed as driver

• Status: Active (in new entrant program)

3 Brothers Transport

• Started: January 17, 2017

• Relationship: “Same email and vehicle tag” as Westfield

• Status: Active

Extended Network Companies

Vlad Transport

• Relationship: “Principal place of business associated with the crash-involved driver; accident driver worked as dispatcher”

• Status: No USDOT number

DAKS Express

• Started: March 27, 2015

• Relationship: “Principal place of business associated with crash-involved driver; same address as Vlad’s Transport; shared driver”

• Status: Active

Additional Connected Carriers:

• Hgj Transport (June 13, 2011) - Shared VIN

• County Transport Inc (June 21, 2018) - 3 of the same vehicles (same plates and VIN)

• Ec Transport (March 2, 2018) - Shared driver and two shared vehicles

• Njc Transport Inc (January 4, 2018) - 2 shared vehicles

• Belaz Inc (August 13, 2010) - Shared VIN

• Kb Xpress Corp (November 17, 2017) - Shared driver who became manager at East2West Transport

• Walker Transport (August 27, 2009) - Shared VIN

• Teto Express Inc. (May 10, 2019) - Shared VIN

Albert “Woody” Mazza Jr., 59, was leading the group of motorcyclists that day, heading to a charity event at the American Legion post in Gorham. The president of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, Mazza embodied the Marine Corps values of service and sacrifice. Behind him rode Edward and Jo-Ann Corr, both 58, of Lakeville, Massachusetts, approaching their 38th wedding anniversary. Michael Ferazzi, 62, of Contoocook, New Hampshire, was a grandfather and Marine veteran. Daniel Pereira, 58, of Riverside, Rhode Island, had been married 27 years and dedicated his post-service life to helping fellow Marines. Desma Oakes, 42, of Concord, New Hampshire, and Aaron Perry, 45, of Farmington, New Hampshire, completed the group.

All seven died of blunt force trauma when Zhukovskyy’s truck and trailer plowed through their formation. The impact was so violent that motorcycles were carried into the tree line, parts scattered across hundreds of yards of highway. Some victims were thrown into the woods; others were trapped beneath the burning truck.

They were Marines, spouses, parents, and grandparents whose lives were cut short by preventable negligence at every level of the system designed to protect them.

When Zhukovskyy finally faced trial in August 2022, the proceedings exposed deep flaws in how the criminal justice system handles complex cases with multiple contributing factors. Prosecutors argued that Zhukovskyy, under the influence of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, repeatedly swerved before crossing the centerline and killing seven people. They had his own admission: “Obviously, I caused the crash.”

The defense successfully shifted blame to Albert Mazza, arguing that his blood alcohol content of .135 caused him to lose control of his motorcycle and slide into Zhukovskyy’s truck. A defense expert testified that the collision occurred on the double yellow line and would have been unavoidable even if the truck had been properly positioned.

Crucially, Judge Martin Honigberg dismissed eight impairment-related charges before the case reached the jury, ruling that the state hadn’t proven Zhukovskyy was impaired at the time of the crash. This decision fundamentally undermined the prosecution’s case.

After less than three hours of deliberation, the jury acquitted Zhukovskyy on all 15 charges. Governor Chris Sununu called the verdict shocking, while Attorney General John Formella said Zhukovskyy “should have been found guilty.” The New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers criticized these statements as “irresponsible” and “damaging to the integrity of the criminal legal system.”

Today, Volodymyr Zhukovskyy remains in legal limbo that perfectly encapsulates the failure of accountability in this case. Immediately after his acquittal, Immigration and Customs Enforcement took him into custody based on his Ukrainian citizenship and extensive criminal history. An immigration judge ordered his deportation in February 2023, but the ongoing war in Ukraine complicated removal proceedings.

The U.S. has suspended repatriation flights to Ukraine due to the conflict, and Zhukovskyy was released from ICE custody in April 2023 under an Order of Supervision. He cannot be deported to a war zone, yet he cannot fully rejoin American society due to his pending deportation order.

In a move that shocked victims’ families, Zhukovskyy requested restoration of his driving privileges in September 2022, writing to New Hampshire officials: “I would like to request a hearing to get my license back.” In May 2024, Superior Court Judge Martin Honigberg upheld the administrative finding that Zhukovskyy was responsible for the crash, despite his criminal acquittal. His license remains suspended until 2026, then, he could theoretically have his license reinstated.

The only criminal conviction related to the entire case came in April 2025, when Zhukovskyy pleaded guilty to the Connecticut DUI charge that should have prevented the deadly crash. He received 18 months of probation, 100 hours of community service, and random drug testing. The conviction that should have saved seven lives became merely a footnote to their deaths.

The Zhukovskyy case represents far more than one tragic crash, it’s a case study in systematic failure across multiple levels of government and industry. The Massachusetts RMV’s inability to process interstate violation notices wasn’t unique; similar backlogs existed nationwide. Westfield Transport’s fraud reflected weak enforcement that allows problem carriers to operate with impunity.

The electronic logging device controversy revealed that technology-based safety solutions can be easily circumvented when companies are motivated to do so. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s reliance on self-certification and voluntary compliance proved inadequate when corporate executives prioritize profits over safety.

Most fundamentally, the case exposed how the current regulatory framework allows companies to externalize the costs of safety violations onto victims and society. When the consequences of corporate negligence fall primarily on innocent victims rather than the executives who make unsafe decisions, the system creates perverse incentives for corner-cutting.

Preventing similar tragedies requires addressing failures at every level revealed by this case. Interstate information sharing must be improved to ensure that dangerous drivers cannot escape accountability by crossing state lines. Corporate executives who knowingly violate safety regulations must face meaningful criminal penalties that reflect the potential consequences of their decisions.

Drug testing for commercial drivers needs fundamental reform, including more frequent random testing and hair follicle analysis that can detect longer-term substance abuse. Electronic logging devices require better oversight and enforcement to prevent the tampering that characterized Westfield Transport’s operations.

Perhaps most importantly, the regulatory philosophy governing commercial vehicle safety needs to shift from voluntary compliance to aggressive enforcement. The current system’s deference to industry self-policing has proven inadequate to protect public safety when strong economic incentives exist for unsafe behavior.

The seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club who died on Route 2 in Randolph deserved better than the fragmented and inadequate response their deaths have received. They deserved a transportation system that prioritizes human life over corporate convenience, accountability over efficiency, and safety over profits.

As we move forward from this case, the question remains whether our society has the political will to implement the fundamental changes needed to prevent similar tragedies. The cost of continued complacency, as seven families learned in the most painful way possible, is measured in human lives.

The systems failed Albert Mazza, Edward and Jo-Ann Corr, Michael Ferazzi, Desma Oakes, Daniel Pereira, and Aaron Perry. They should not fail the next potential victims who trust that someone, somewhere in the vast machinery of government and industry, is working to keep them safe on America’s highways.

The record would have you believe this was an innocent one-time mistake,

Early Violations (2012-2017)

2012

Massachusetts Charges:

• Unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle

• Negligent operation of a motor vehicle

• Speeding

• Result: All charges dismissed

2013

April 25, 2013: Received personal driver’s license in Massachusetts

June 16, 2013: Operating Under the Influence of Liquor

• Penalties: License suspension, mandatory education classes, youth alcohol program (under age 21)

• Impact: License suspended June 2013 through December 2016

2014

June 24, 2014: Macedonia, Ohio Violations

• Driving with a suspended license

• Speeding

• Possessing drug paraphernalia

• Giving false information to police officer

• Result: Pleaded guilty to all charges

• Details: Gave officer someone else’s driver’s license, later admitted he lied because his license was suspended due to Massachusetts DUI

• Additional Impact: Driver’s license suspended until May 2, 2017

2017

Massachusetts Drug Charges:

• Possession of controlled substance

• Result: Pleaded guilty

Commercial Driving Period (2018-2019)

2018

August 3, 2018: Obtained Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in Massachusetts

December 2018: Employment Violation

• Employer: Universe Express

• Violation: “Unusual behavior resulting from suspected drug use noted by Universe Express manager”

• Result: Terminated from Universe Express

• Source: Employer records

2019 - The Fatal Year

February 11, 2019: Baytown, Texas

• Charge: Possession of drug paraphernalia

• Result: Arrested

February 18, 2019: Massachusetts Traffic Violation

• Violation: Improper lane/location

• Result: No violation or suspension issued

• Source: Massachusetts RMV

May 11, 2019: East Windsor, Connecticut

• Charges: Operating Under the Influence (OUI)

• Failed field sobriety test

• Refused urine drug test

• Result: Nonresident driving privilege suspended in Connecticut

• Critical Failure: Massachusetts never processed this notification, allowing him to continue driving

June 3, 2019: Baytown, Texas Commercial Vehicle Crash

• Violation: “Ran off road and overturned” while operating commercial vehicle (Mack truck hauling trailer with cars)

• Claim: Driver stated he “overcorrected after a car cut him off”

• Result: No citation issued, FBI Express requested driver submit to drug test

• Source: Police report, employer records

June 7, 2019: Employment Termination

• Employer: FBI Express

• Reason: “Driver provided urine sample for drug testing (test was negative)” but “Terminated from FBI Express for not completing drug test in time and for being involved in a crash”

• Source: Employer records

June 18, 2019: Hired by Westfield Transport

• Critical Detail: Dunyadar Gasanov hired Zhukovskyy despite knowing his history of DUI and substance abuse violations

June 21, 2019: Randolph, New Hampshire Fatal Crash

• Vehicle: 2016 Dodge pickup truck towing flatbed trailer

• Victims: Seven motorcyclists killed, three injured

• Driver Admission: Told police “Obviously, I caused the crash”

Post-Crash Criminal Proceedings

New Hampshire State Charges (2019-2022)

Filed June 24, 2019:

• 7 counts of negligent homicide

• 7 counts of manslaughter

• 1 count of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon

• 8 additional impairment-related charges (later dismissed by judge)

Trial: July-August 2022 Verdict: Not guilty on all remaining charges (August 9, 2022)

Connecticut State Charges

May 11, 2019 OUI Case:

• Plea: Alford plea (April 14, 2025)

• Sentence: 18 months probation, 100 hours community service, random drug testing

• Note: This is the ONLY criminal conviction related to the entire case

Federal Immigration Consequences

• August 10, 2022: Taken into ICE custody immediately after acquittal

• February 2023: Immigration judge ordered deportation

• April 2023: Released under Order of Supervision due to Ukraine war

• Current Status: Cannot be deported while Ukraine conflict continues

Administrative License Actions

New Hampshire Driving Privileges

• June 24, 2019: License suspended after crash

• September 2022: Zhukovskyy requested a restoration hearing

• May 30, 2024: Administrative judge upheld suspension, found him responsible for crash despite criminal acquittal

• July 10, 2024: Driving privileges suspended for additional two years (until 2026)

Systematic Failures:

• 2013-2016: Three-year license suspension that should have prevented CDL eligibility

• 2018: CDL granted despite disqualifying violation history

• May 2019: Connecticut OUI notification not processed by Massachusetts

• June 2019: Continued employment despite Texas crash and failed drug test

Critical 18-Day Window:

• June 3: Overturned commercial truck in Texas

• June 7: Terminated for failing drug test
  June 18: Hired by Westfield Transport

• June 21: Killed seven people

This complete criminal history shows that Zhukovskyy was never a “first-time offender” who made a tragic mistake. He was a habitual violator with a documented pattern of substance abuse, traffic violations, and commercial vehicle crashes who was repeatedly failed by a regulatory system that prioritized bureaucratic convenience over public safety.