Woman Suing Over New Hampshire Crash That Killed 7 Motorcyclists Seeks Delay

A woman who lost her partner in a collision that killed seven motorcyclists last year in New Hampshire wants to put a pause on her lawsuit against the company that employed a pickup truck driver involved in the crash.

Mediation efforts are scheduled in September in an insurance case involving the company, lawyers for Mary Lou Welch said in court papers recently. They ask to postpone her case until Oct. 1.

Welch sued Westfield Transport of Massachusetts for emotional distress following the crash last June in Randolph. Her partner, Albert “Woody” Mazza Jr., died.

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, who was employed by Westfield Transport, has been charged with seven counts of negligent homicide and pleaded not guilty in the case. Westfield had tried, unsuccessfully, to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the company should not be held responsible for the crash because it hired Zhukovskyy.

Since then, the insurer for Westfield, Pilgrim Insurance, filed a petition in federal court in Boston asking a judge to divide liability payments among victims and their families. Pilgrim asked to have its $1 million policy divided for Westfield. The suit details multiple claims. The company said it is unable to determine amounts to be paid and wants the court to decide.