Robert Kraft pledges $ 100,000 to biker families killed in a crash in the NH – CBS Boston

FOXBORO (CBS / AP) – The owner of the New England Patriots, Robert Kraft, made a surprise announcement Saturday, while he pledged to donate $ 100,000 to families of seven motorcyclists killed in a tragic accident in New Hampshire last month.

More than a thousand bikers from across the country traveled to Foxboro's Gillette Stadium to celebrate the lives of the men and women who were killed when a truck and trailer fell on a group of motorcycles in Randolph, New Hampshire, June 21st. members or supporters of the Jarheads, a New England biker club that includes the Marines and their spouses.

Kraft met the group on the parking lot for the Saturday demonstration, which raised funds for the families of the victims. When he went on stage to talk to the crowd, he made this surprise announcement.

"I know you have a GoFundMe page and that it says you want to collect 700 (in thousands of dollars) and you are about $ 560,000, so our family is going to commit $ 100,000 for this purpose." said Kraft.

The crowd burst with cheers.

"And if you do not reach the 700 today, we'll invent anything," said the owner of the Patriots. "We are all patriots and you are the true patriots."

"We need this support and we adopt it," said Matthew Ferazzi, whose father was killed in the accident. Michael Ferazzi was an American Navy and later became a police offer in Plymouth, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, where he became a member of the MC Jarheads.

"They drove for good and to help people that he helped all his life. That's all he knew, "Ferazzi told WBZ-TV.

Manny Ribeiro, president of the Jarheads and survivor of the crash, said the weeks since the crash were "terrible," but that "unwavering support" has helped the group and the biker community through the tragedy.

"This event would not have been possible without Mr. Kraft," he told the sound of live music and roaring motorcycles.

George Loring, another member of the Jarheads, said the support was helpful, but that "it did not stop the tears".

"Every rider here is here to support those who have died and those who are injured, and hope their presence today will help everyone to heal," said Loring, who was a few feet away from him. accident.

The driver of the van, Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 23, pleaded not guilty to negligent homicide and remains behind bars.

Connecticut officials have alerted Massachusetts twice about an arrest for drunk driving against Zhukovskyy. Despite warnings, Massachusetts has failed to suspend its license.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said he has drafted legislation to tighten the requirements of commercial drivers. The State also uses an external firm to audit the motor vehicle registry.

"We lost seven people because they filed their papers and did not do their job. This guy should not have driven, "Loring said. "Now we all have to live with that," he said.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved Associated Press contributed to this report.)