Driver In Horrific Arborway Car Crash Withdraws Guilty Plea

WEST ROXBURY (CBS) - The teen driver involved in a Sept. 2013 crash in Jamaica Plain that injured three passengers and left the driver of the other car paralyzed withdrew his guilty plea in West Roxbury District Court Friday.

The judge initially recommended a two-year sentence with one year of probation for Nikolas Papadopoulos after he admitted there were sufficient facts suggesting negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

The defense team then surprisingly withdrew his plea after facts surrounding the crash were disputed in court.

Police say Papadopoulos, then 18, was driving on the Arborway around 2 p.m. when his Mazda Tribute crossed the median and landed on top of a pickup truck, paralyzing its driver, 33-year-old Kevin Cellucci.

Papadopoulos does not remember the crash, but may have swerved to avoid another vehicle, causing him to lose control, Papadopoulos' attorney said.

The withdrawal of Papadopoulos' guilty plea will send the case to trial, with a date of March 3 scheduled.

Papadopoulos was going at least 20mph over the posted speed limit, prosecutors said in court Friday.

"Not a day goes by he doesn't feel guilt and shame for the accident," Papadopoulos' attorney told the courtroom.

Celucci, a father of three children, cannot walk or talk and will require medical care rest of life as a result of the crash, prosecutors said. A 15-year-old passenger in Papadopoulos' car was ejected from the vehicle and is paralyzed from the waist down.

WBZ-TV's Beth Germano and Chris McKinnon contributed to this report. 

MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON