Farm involved in fatal hayride crash reaches plea agreement
Posted November 14, 2016 6:51 pm.
Last Updated November 14, 2016 8:12 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
AUBURN, Maine – A Maine farm charged with manslaughter in a fatal Halloween-themed hayride crash has reached a plea agreement that’ll end the criminal case against it.
The attorney for Harvest Hill Farms says that the farm will plead guilty Tuesday to driving to endanger and that a manslaughter charge will be dropped. Attorney Michael Whipple says the agreement calls for a $7,500 fine or donation and substantial restitution.
The October 2014 crash in Mechanic Falls claimed the life of 17-year-old Cassidy Charette and injured more than 20 other people. Riders were tossed into trees following a brake failure on a Jeep hauling a wagon.
The driver of the Jeep was acquitted of charges. A charge against a mechanic was dropped last month.
The bankrupt farm was sold at auction for $1 million last summer.
