Springfield man pleads guilty to manslaughter in deadly Chicopee pedestrian accident

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A Springfield man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a deadly pedestrian accident in Chicopee back in October of 2022.

Nazier Grandison , 24, of Springfield, has pled guilty to manslaughter for his responsibility in the death of 34-year-old Nickolas Weichel, of Chicopee.

The incident occurred on October 8, 2022, when Chicopee Police were called to the 400 block of Springfield Street. They found Weichel dead after he was struck by a motor vehicle. Weichel was reportedly walking to his car when a vehicle traveling in the wrong lane hit him, exceeding the speed limit at over 70 mph. The posted speed limit in the area is 30 mph.

Grandison’s plea came during a change of plea hearing held on Tuesday, just days before his scheduled trial on April 22. The judge ultimately sentenced him to 3-4 years in prison.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni expressed his sentiments regarding the case, acknowledging the gravity of the situation, “Given the defendant’s gross recklessness and its tragic outcome, my office pursued the charge of manslaughter for this conduct and sought a stringent punishment. But, no matter the conclusion of this criminal case, Mr. Weichel’s family will never be made whole and will forever grieve his loss. I thank the detectives from the Chicopee Police Department and Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to my office, along with Assistant District Attorney and Chief of the Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit James Forsyth for their thorough and professional investigation and prosecution of this case.”

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