PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Vermont man has been sentenced to up to 15 years in state prison for his role in his toddler son's death.

 

Darel Galorenzo, 35, of Readsboro pleaded guilty in Berkshire Superior Court on Monday to manslaughter, and single charges each of operating under the influence and while endangering a child. 

 

His son, 2, drowned a month before his third birthday after his father crashed his vehicle in Clarksburg and the child fell into Hudson Brook. 

 

"It gave me no pleasure to appear in court today to settle this horrific case," District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said following the sentencing. "Mr. Galorenzo's actions on April 7 and 8 of 2023 directly caused the death of his son. I will spare the public of the traumatic details of the incidents that led to a 2-year-old child's death, which included first surviving a car crash then ultimately drowning on a cold, dark night in a river rushing with melting snow.  

 

"However, I wish to express that this is one of the most tragic cases I have seen in my almost 40 years of practicing law. These sentiments have also been shared by the judge involved in this case."

 

Shugrue had requested a sentence of 12 to 15 years in state prison. The defense requested a sentence of four years in the House of Correction with probation on and after.

 

Judge John Agostini sentenced Galorenzo to nine to 15 years in state prison on the charge of manslaughter, which the DA said is three times the state sentencing guidelines. The defendant was also sentenced to 2 1/2 years each on the OUI charges, to be served consecutively but concurrent with the prison sentence. 

 

A fourth charge, of conspiracy to violate drug laws, was nolle prosequi, or not proceeded. 

 

Galorenzo was initially charged on April 8, 2023, and held on $250,000 bail. 

 

He was apparently southbound in a 2015 Subaru Crosstrek at about 1:58 the morning of April 8 when the vehicle crashed into a mailbox and then into a utility pole near 443 Middle Road. Police say he tried to flee the scene with his son and entered nearby Hudson Brook and lost the boy. The brook flows alongside Middle Road and the waters are currently high from snow melt. 

 

A trooper from the Cheshire Barracks and Clarksburg firefighters who responded to the crash located and pulled the child from Hudson Brook at about 2:20 a.m. near 150 Middle Road. The child was rushed to the Berkshire Medical Center's North Adams campus, where he was pronounced deceased.

 

Shugrue commended the judge and the authorities who had investigated the crime, including Trooper Ryan Costello, "who heroically put his own life at risk to enter the river multiple times in attempts to rescue the child."

 

"That said, no amount of time served will ever bring justice for the death of this innocent toddler," the DA said in a statement. "After today's hearing, I spoke with the mother of the toddler who died due to the reckless actions of Mr. Galorenzo. I shared my sincerest condolences, but I recognize my words most likely bring little comfort to her devastating loss. As a parent myself, I cannot imagine the deep sadness she is experiencing."