Carrying a heavy heart, Kunj Patel stood up from his wheelchair, with a candle and rose in hand, and then paused, alongside dozens of supporters at the site where the boy and his father suffered immeasurable pain.

Just 12 days prior, Kunj turned 14 years old, and his family had been en route from their Franklin home to pick up a cake in Blackstone to celebrate his birthday. And then everything changed.

An alleged drunk driver plowed into their vehicle head-on, causing fatal injuries to Kunj’s 5-year-old sister Krisha and 38-year-old mother Minaben Patel. Krisha died shortly after the devastating crash on May 24, and Minaben died earlier this week.

Family, friends and community members came together Thursday evening at the site of the crash, in front of Franklin dentist’s office, fitness

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