Man charged with motor vehicle homicide after woman, 70, killed in New Bedford crash

A Dartmouth man was arraigned Friday on charges including motor vehicle homicide after a New Bedford crash killed one woman and injured another, prosecutors said.

Andrew Johansen, 34, is charged with motor vehicle homicide by OUI and negligence after a woman was killed and another was injured in a car accident on Friday, the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said. He was arraigned in New Bedford District Court.

Johansen was also cited for a marked lane violation and possessing an open container of alcohol in a vehicle, court records show. 

On Feb. 6, Mary Patzsensky, 70, and another woman, 65, were hit by a vehicle at the intersection of Route 18 North and Coggeshall Street, Quinn’s office said. 

Video evidence shows Johansen’s vehicle was backed up in traffic when he decided to pass traffic in the opposite travel lane before suddenly turning left, police said in a statement of facts filed in court.

According to the statement of facts, while partially on the wrong side of the road, Johansen’s vehicle slid on ice. This caused him to slide onto the sidewalk, hitting the two woman, who were pedestrians, police wrote.

Both women were transported to local hospitals. Patzsensky was pronounced dead at the hospital, while the other woman had minor injuries, the DA said.

According to the statement of facts, police allegedly found an open container of Coors Light in Johansen’s car.  

Johansen’s bail was set at $5,000. If bail is posted, he will have a GPS monitoring device and a curfew and must remain alcohol-free, prosecutors said. 

Johansen is expected to make another court appearance on March 6, Quinn’s office said.