‘Tina’s Law’ trucker guilty in fatality

AUGUSTA – A Caribou trucker with a lengthy record of driving offenses who has been jailed since shortly after a fatal crash on the Maine Turnpike in Hallowell pleaded guilty to manslaughter Friday as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

Scott Hewitt, who also pleaded guilty to five misdemeanors, including operating while possessing a controlled substance, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but 30 months suspended and was ordered to serve four years on probation.

Hewitt, 34, also was given a five-year license suspension, which could be extended for life under further administrative action.

The plea agreement was accepted by Justice Thomas Warren in Kennebec County Superior Court.

In the fatal accident, a tractor-trailer driven by Hewitt struck a car at a construction area in July 2005. The crash caused fatal injuries to Tina Turcotte, 40, of Scarborough, who was driving a car in front of Hewitt’s truck.

Hewitt was driving on a suspended license at the time and had 63 prior driving convictions. He also had been involved in a previous fatal accident.

The Hallowell crash prompted the Legislature to crack down on motorists with suspended licenses who refuse to stop driving.

At Friday’s court hearing, Turcotte’s mother, husband and a sister spoke emotionally before the sentencing, decrying the loss of the victim’s life and telling how theirs had changed.

Husband Scott Turcotte blamed the loss of “my wife, my best friend” on “someone who shouldn’t even have been on the road that day.”

Hewitt, also speaking with a quavering voice, said he understood the anger directed at him and expressed sorrow for his actions.

“I never intended for this to happen. … I truly am sorry,” he said.

In April 2006, Gov. John Baldacci signed into law a bill to help rid Maine’s roads of motorists who have lost their driving privileges.

“Tina’s Law” redefined which drivers are covered by mandatory minimum sentences, created the crime of aggravated operating after habitual offender revocation, and imposed new penalties.

Prosecutors said Friday they believed the plea agreement was appropriate in a case that they described as difficult.

Warren said Hewitt was “taking responsibility” by entering the guilty plea. But, the judge added, “it’s never going to make up for what happened.”

The judge also imposed additional conditions on Hewitt, including making him subject to random searches for motor vehicle keys.