Longtime East Lyme teacher ‘forever grateful’ for support while recovering from serious car crash

After a day of skiing, Stephanie Sojkowski and her family were returning home to Westerly, R.I., when a driver suspected to be under the influence of drugs hit their SUV head-on, according to police.  All five people involved suffered serious injuries. Sojkowski, a longtime math teacher at East Lyme High School, and her husband, who was driving at the time, were both airlifted to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., while their two children, ages 9 and 10, were transported via ambulance.

The driver, identified as Javery A. Hattat of Bennington, Vt., was later released from the hospital and now faces several charges related to the incident. 

Almost two weeks later, Sojkowski remained at the trauma center with multiple broken bones, including her neck, back and pelvis. Though she has a long recovery ahead of her, she is grateful to be alive, according to her friend and colleague, Lauren Machnik. 

The community has come together to help Sojkowski’s family. Machnik organized a Meal Train campaign, through which people can donate meals, groceries, gift cards or money, for the family. The campaign has raised £37,000 of its £50,000 goal, and meals are booked out until mid-April. 

“I am forever grateful to everyone for helping me and my family navigate our way through this,” Sojkowski said in a text through Machnik Friday morning.  Machnik, a fellow geometry teacher at the high school, brings Sojkowski letters, gifts and cards from many of their students and colleagues. Sojkowski’s mother, sister, friends and family have been traveling to the hospital to keep Sojkowski company as well.

“She’s in a lot of pain,” Machnik said Thursday evening as she was on her way to the hospital to see Sojkowski. “Hopefully, it’ll be a good distraction.”  Sojkowski has taught at the high school for about 14 years, according to East Lyme Public Schools Superintendent Jeffrey R. Newton. 

“Our district and staff continue to support Stephanie and her family through this horrific ordeal,” he said in an email. “We are just thankful that this accident did not end with loss of life, and we are hopeful to see Stephanie fully recovered and back with us next school year.” Newton added that the district is finalizing coverage for her classes and hopes to have that in place by next week.  Sojkowski will have to be immobile for about three months while her neck heals, Machnik said.

Meanwhile, Sojkowski is working with physical therapists. She hopes to move to a rehabilitation facility closer to home.  Sojkowski’s two children were released from the hospital last week and are staying with relatives.

Her husband, Steve, was transferred to a rehabilitation facility in their hometown and will stay for a few weeks while he heals from his broken nose, knee, ribs and toe, according to Machnik.  The crash occurred around 3:30 p.m. on March 12. William R.

Gordon, deputy chief of the Greenfield, Mass., Police Department, said a black 2016 Toyota Tacoma was driving along Route 2, also known as Mohawk Trail, near the town line in Greenfield when it went over the marked lines, hitting the Sojkowskis’ SUV head-on.  The family had been driving home from a skiing trip in Berskhire East in Massachusetts. 

“They were really making an effort to go out pretty much every weekend,” Machnik said. “They were doing a bunch of skiing.”  “It was really devastating to see the picture and see their skis all over the road,” she added. 

Hattat, the driver of the pickup truck, has been charged with four counts of negligent operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs resulting in serious bodily injury, four counts of reckless assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, possession of a class B substance (cocaine) and failure to stay within marked lanes. He pleaded not guilty Monday before Greenfield District Court Judge William Mazanec.  Hattat’s bail was set at £10,000 cash with the condition that he not drive a vehicle.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on May 9, the Northwestern District Attorney’s office said. 

Machnik said the incident has also served as a lesson for the students at East Lyme High School. 

“The severity of driving under the influence and how devastating that can be,” she added. 

Liz Hardaway may be reached at [email protected].