Burlington Man Sentenced to 5 Years in DUI Death

Here's a statement from the Middlesex District Attorney's Office:

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Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announces today that Anthony Manfredi, 51, ofBurlington, has been sentenced to state prison for a fatal pedestrian crash on August 14, 2011 that killed aBurlington man.

Manfredi was found guilty of felony motor vehicle homicide following a five day jury trial in Middlesex Superior Court.  Today, Middlesex Superior Court Judge Kimberly Budd sentenced him to five years to five years and one day in state prison.

“This defendant drove drunk and hit and killed a man who was crossing the street,” District Attorney Ryan said.  “His negligent and reckless actions took the life of Daniel Jalbert. Anytime someone drinks alcohol and gets behind the wheel, they not only put themselves at risk, but more often than not, they put others in harms’ way. There is never a good reason for someone to drink and drive.”

According to authorities, on August 14, 2011, at approximately 8:10 p.m., Burlington Police responded to the intersection of Cambridge Street and Olympia Way in Burlington for a report of a motor vehicle striking and injuring a pedestrian. Upon arrival, officers observed Burlington Fire and Rescue personnel rendering aid to the victim, Daniel Jalbert, 51, who was lying on the pavement next to a blue Chevy Tahoe with visible front-end damage.  The victim was transported to Lahey Clinic where he was pronounced dead.

Also on scene, authorities located the defendant who was the operator of the Chevy Tahoe.  While speaking with the defendant, officers observed that he was unsteady on his feet, his words were slurred and there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from his mouth. Subsequently, the defendant failed several field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest. 

The investigation revealed that the defendant was driving southbound on Cambridge Streetwhen he struck Jalpert head on. The force of the impact propelled the victim 75 feet forward. The analysis by State Police reconstruction determined that the defendant had ample time and distance to avoid striking the victim with his Chevy Tahoe.

The defendant was arraigned in Woburn District Court on August 15, 2011 and was indicted by a Middlesex County grand jury on January 24, 2012.

The prosecutor assigned to this case was Assistant District Attorney Lisa Fuccione. The Victim Witness Advocate was Kristin Dagnelli. This case was investigated by the Burlington Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section.