The driver in a fatal car crash that killed four of his fellow students at Maine Maritime Academy has reached a plea deal with prosecutors that could send him to prison for seven years, though possibly less.
Joshua Goncalves-Radding, 21, is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 7, on four counts of manslaughter and nine other charges. A memo from his defense attorney, Walter McKee, indicates he’s pleading guilty to 13 total charges.
The students who died on Dec. 10, 2022 in the fiery crash were Brian Kenealy, 20, of York; Chase Fossett, 21, of Gardiner; Luke Simpson, 22, of Rockport, Massachusetts; and Riley Ignacio-Cameron, 20, of Aquinnah, Massachusetts.
In all, seven Maine Maritime Academy students, including Goncalves-Radding, were in the Land Rover when it crashed on Route 166. Goncalves-Radding was driving faster than 100 miles per hour when the crash occurred, though the speed limit was 35 miles per hour, police have said.
The car skidded out of control for more than 260 feet, went airborne for nearly 60 feet, and slammed into a large tree at 84 miles per hour, according to police. The four students who died were killed on impact and the car quickly burst into flames, police said.
The group had been out for a night of drinking in Bangor and were returning to Castine when the crash happened at around 2 a.m. Goncalves and two other survivors who escaped the burning vehicle, one of whom owned the car, all suffered serious injuries, according to documents filed in Hancock County Unified Criminal Court.
Less than two hours after the crash, a blood sample taken from Goncalves-Radding indicated he had a blood-alcohol content of 0.16 percent, which is twice the 0.08 percent threshold considered to be drunken driving under Maine law.
Other charges Goncalves-Radding is expected to plead guilty to include five felony charges of aggravated operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, two felony counts of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, and one count each of criminal speed and unlawful use of license, both of which are misdemeanors.
Hancock County District Attorney Robert Granger is recommending an underlying sentence of 18 years but a period of incarceration of no more than 7 years, according to court documents. Goncalves-Radding would also have to pay more than $10,000 in fines.
Goncalves-Radding’s defense attorney, McKee, is requesting a period of incarceration of “far lesser” than five years so that his client can avoid having to serve his time at the Maine State Prison in Warren.
