Biddeford man pleads guilty to charges in fatal accident

ALFRED – A Biddeford man accused of causing a collision that claimed the life of another motorist on Route 111 pleaded guilty Friday to manslaughter and four other charges.

Because there was no plea agreement, Christopher Lyons faces up to 65 years when he is sentenced, Justice Roland Cole told him. Sentencing was set for Aug. 15 in York County Superior Court.

The New Year’s Eve accident killed John Gerry, 69, of Alfred, who was newly retired and returning home from work for the last time.

Twenty-three members of Gerry’s family sat through the hearing, and his niece said afterward that they’ll push for the maximum sentence.

“He doesn’t deserve to walk the streets. His history proves the only way to stop [him from driving] is keep him behind bars. The family will ask for all of it,” Darlene Gerry said.

Lyons, who had a criminal record including 11 convictions, should not have been driving that night because his license had been revoked for a previous drunken driving conviction.

Tests taken within 11/2 hours of the 4:45 p.m. collision showed Lyons had a blood alcohol content of 0.20 percent, said District Attorney Michael Cantara. The legal limit for driving in Maine is 0.08 percent.

A state police accident reconstruction indicated Lyons was driving at 80 mph in the 55-mph zone before the head-on collision.

One of the witnesses saw Lyons driving erratically and passing cars on the right before the collision, Cantara said.

In addition to manslaughter, Lyons pleaded guilty to criminal operating under the influence, aggravated assault, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and operating after revocation.

Defense attorney Clifford Strike said his client has shown remorse and taken responsibility for his actions.

The Gerry family described their brother and uncle as a caring man who loved his garden and was thoughtful to neighbors.

“When he was driving home that night, he must have been thinking, ‘Now I have time to spend with my family and help take care of my mom.’ He never got that chance. It was taken from him,” said his sister, Sharon Cote.