ROYALSTON – A Gardner woman facing manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide charges in connection with a 2024 fatal crash in Royalston is considering a possible resolution to the case, according to Worcester Superior Court records.
Anna Hamel, 50, faces seven charges in connection with the July 16, 2024 crash, including two counts of manslaughter, two counts of motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, two counts of motor vehicle homicide and one count of operating to endanger. The two people killed were Roger Byron, 52, of Gardner, and Paul Sliwinski, 69, of Auburn.
According to an Aug. 11 court filing by Hamel’s attorney, Nora M. Leovich, Hamel was offered a resolution by the Commonwealth and participated in Rule 12 proceedings on July 29 and Aug. 11. Rule 12 of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure governs pleas and plea agreements.
Leovich wrote that the proceedings resulted in “a disposition that the defendant is contemplating accepting.”
Leovich also asked the court to temporarily modify Hamel’s pretrial release conditions so she could travel to Florida before deciding whether to accept the disposition. A judge allowed the request with a modification on Aug. 13.
The case remains pending in Worcester Superior Court. The court docket lists a trial assignment conference for Sept. 22.
The crash was reported at 2:22 p.m. on Athol Road near Doane Hill Road. Former Royalston Police Chief Curtis Deveneau previously told the Athol Daily News that one vehicle, occupied by only the driver, was traveling south on Athol Road and a second was driving north. The second vehicle was occupied by a driver as well as two passengers, Byron and Sliwinski.
Deveneau said the driver of the northbound vehicle appeared to have lost control and struck a utility pole, a guardrail and then the southbound vehicle near the intersection of Athol and Doane Hill roads. Deveneau said one person was partially ejected from the northbound vehicle.
Two people required extrication and three of the victims were transported to Athol Hospital. According to the DA’s office, Sliwinski was pronounced dead at the scene and Byron at Athol Hospital.
A Worcester County grand jury indicted Hamel in October 2024. She was arraigned Oct. 29 in Worcester Superior Court, where she pleaded not guilty to all seven charges. A judge set cash bail at $10,000 and ordered her not to operate a motor vehicle.
In March 2025, Hamel’s cash bail was reduced to $5,000. Court records show she was also ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device, remain on home confinement and report to probation. The court later approved changes to those conditions that allowed Hamel to leave her home during certain hours.
During the case, the court has also approved defense requests for funds for experts in accident reconstruction, psychiatry and psychology.