GREENFIELD — A trial is nearing for police Sgt. James Rode on charges of negligent motor vehicle homicide and speeding in connection with an October 2017 fatal crash on High Street.
Rode, 48, went before a judge in Greenfield District Court Tuesday where his attorney and First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven Gagne agreed to a May 14 date to hear filed motions, or if no motions are filed, a possible pre-trial hearing. A trial could then follow within the month. All motions need to be filed by April 30.
Rode has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The two sides squabbled briefly over motions to be filed and the extent of information that should be expected to be provided by Rode. Tuesday’s proceeding was the first substantive movement forward in the case. Rode was arraigned in July. At the arraignment, new court filings were made available regarding the Massachusetts State Police investigation into the crash that led to the death of James Arcellana, 29, of Hinsdale, N.H.
The crash occurred when Rode’s “low-profile” black Ford Explorer Greenfield police cruiser collided with the vehicle being driven by Arcellana at the intersection of High and Sanderson streets.
The investigators said the driver who was killed in the collision could not have seen the cruiser speeding 83 mph down High Street. The report concluded Rode was traveling at a rate of speed “far greater than reasonable and proper” in the 30-mph zone.
Rode was reportedly responding to an “urgent” call of an erratic driver in the direction of downtown Greenfield, according to the state police report.
The incident has also led to staffing and cruiser concerns for the Greenfield Police Department, which has been down an officer and a vehicle since this accident, now 16 months later.
Reach Joshua Solomon at jsolomon@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 264