MECHANIC FALLS, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Sunday marks one year since Cassidy Charette, 17, was killed when the Jeep carrying a tractor trailer lost control during a haunted hayride at Harvest Hill Farm.
Cassidy Charette was a member of the high school soccer team. Her boyfriend, Connor Garland, was on the baseball team and was also injured in the hayride accident along with 20 other people.
Two days after the accident, state investigators started to focus attention on the 1979 Jeep that was pulling the trailer filled with people. On Oct. 17, State Police finished the inspection of the Jeep, but the results were not released. They did say the Jeep had a mechanical malfunction.
The crash "threw everyone off the trailer and into each other and into trees," said Sgt.Joel Davis of the state fire marshal's office. He said a mechanical problem prevented the SUV pulling the wagon from stopping.
Harvest Hill Farms, Inc. in Mechanic Falls has been charged with manslaughter, aggravated assault, driving to endanger and reckless conduct. The owner of the farm, Peter Bolduc wasn't personally charged. His lawyer, Michael Whipple said Bolduc is grateful for that, but remains devastated by the accident.
The driver of the Jeep towing the hayride trailer, David Brown, was charged with manslaughter, aggravated assault, driving to endanger and reckless conduct. The mechanic of the Jeep, Philip Theberge, was charged with reckless conduct.
A company can't face jail time, so if convicted, Harvest Hill Farms could face fines in excess of $170,000. If the two employees are convicted of reckless conduct, they could spend a year in prison. No trial dates have been set.
Bolduc has filed for bankruptcy.
