North Falmouth, Massachusetts – Noelle Tavares, a 21-year-old student from North Falmouth, is facing serious charges related to a devastating car crash that led to the deaths of four of her peers. The incident occurred on December 10, 2022, on Route 166 in Castine, sending shockwaves through the Maritime Academy community.
A Grand Jury indictment has now charged Noelle Tavares with four counts of manslaughter, four counts of aggravated operating under the influence, two counts of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, and criminal speed. The tragic accident unfolded when a 2013 Range Rover carrying seven students, including Tavares, crashed into a tree and caught fire.
The victims of the crash have been identified as Brian Kenealy, 20, of York, Maine; Chase Fossett, 21, of Gardiner, Maine; Luke Simpson, 22, of Rockport, Massachusetts; and Riley Ignacio-Cameron, 20, of Aquinnah, Massachusetts. The collision claimed their lives on the spot, leaving a profound impact on the tight-knit community.
Tavares, along with Joshua Goncalves-Radding and Dominick Gecoya, survived the accident. Goncalves-Radding, who was driving the vehicle, faces multiple charges, including four counts of manslaughter and aggravated DUI.
Initially charged, Dominick Gecoya, whose father owned the crashed car, has had the charges against him dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Noelle Tavares pleaded not guilty to the charges during her court appearance after being indicted by a Hancock County Grand Jury on Friday, August 11, 2023. The bail was set at $5,000, which Tavares posted, leading to her release from custody.
Hancock County District Attorney Robert Granger emphasized that more details about Tavares’s role in the incident cannot be disclosed at this time. He assured that the course of the trial will provide a clearer understanding of her involvement.
All the students involved were part of the Maine Maritime Academy community. To honor the lives lost, a vigil was organized, offering a chance for the community to come together and remember the students who tragically passed away.
President Jerry S. Paul expressed the academy’s sorrow and solidarity in a statement, saying, “Mourn these young men in their memory. … They were lost way too soon and before their watch was over. We will carry on for them and at the appropriate time ring eight bells in their honor.”
Noelle Tavares is currently out on bail as the legal process unfolds. The trial will shed light on the circumstances surrounding the accident and its aftermath.
Categories: News
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
