The driver of a hayride that crashed in Mechanic Falls two years ago, killing a 17-year-old Oakland girl and injuring more than 20 others, goes on trial in Bath Thursday on a charge of reckless conduct.
David Brown, who was employed by the farm where the fatal accident occurred in October 2014, was indicted on the misdemeanor charge by an Androscoggin County grand jury.
The accident attracted widespread attention in the area and Brown requested a change of venue, sending the trial to Sagadahoc County Superior Court in Bath. The proceedings are set to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday and could last four days.
The grand jury also indicted Harvest Hill Farms, the farm where the crash occurred, and a mechanic who worked there. Those defendants, who are not being tried this week, also have requested a venue change.
Harvest Hill Farms, which has since filed for bankruptcy, was indicted on charges of manslaughter, aggravated assault, driving to endanger and reckless conduct.
The mechanic, Philip Theberge, also was indicted on a misdemeanor charge of reckless conduct.
Reckless conduct, a class D misdemeanor, is punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Brown was behind the wheel of the Jeep that was pulling a trailer with passengers as part of the haunted hayride offered by Harvest Hill Farms in October 2014.
The accident occurred when the Jeep went out of control, hit a tree and overturned, sending 22 people to the hospital and fatally injuring Cassidy Charette, a student at Messalonskee High School who was on the ride with her boyfriend.
In July 2015, after a grand jury returned the charges against Brown, Theberge and the farm, Charette’s parents, Monica and Randy Charette, issued a statement through their attorney that said, in part:
“We understand there are many people who are angry and want some sort of ‘justice to be served.’ We do believe that if investigators and prosecutors deem that a person is criminally responsible, then appropriate charges should be pursued. People should be held accountable for the decisions they make that affect the health and safety of others.
“But for us, the bottom line is this: In the end, we are still in the same place. Living in a life we no longer recognize without our beautiful, loving, inspiring, amazing Cass. We are left with lifelong yearning and grief. The excruciatingly disappointing truth is that nothing can ever change that, because nothing can bring her back.”
In July, the Charette family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the owner of Harvest Hill Farm, Peter J. Bolduc, as well as against Brown and Theberge.
James Andrews, the deputy district attorney for Androscoggin County who is prosecuting the case against Brown, declined to comment on the trial when contacted Wednesday afternoon.
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