Fatal crash draws homicide charge
By GEORGE BRENNAN STAFF WRITER SANDWICH - Christopher Parker, whose record includes five driving while impaired charges, will now face a vehicular homicide charge in connection with the death of a Forestdale woman Monday.Police believe it was negligence on the part of Parker, 50, that set off Monday's three-car crash on Route 130 that killed Diane Carhart, 63.
Parker, who lives on Jody Lane just two miles from where Carhart lived, was charged with operating under the influence of drugs in Bourne last October. According to court records, Parker was driving erratically at the Sagamore Bridge before a state trooper pulled him over. He allegedly told the trooper that he was on methadone and Ativan, a sedative, according to the report. He said he was using the drugs because he had recently undergone knee surgery.Parker was also charged with driving erratically and a marked lanes violation. His license was revoked by the Registry of Motor Vehicles after that arrest.
''I received information from the Registry that it was valid again,'' Parker said yesterday in a brief telephone interview.
Carhart, a mother and grandmother, was stopped waiting to make a left turn into Trade Winds Plaza at 11:30 a.m. Monday when her Chevrolet Tracker was rammed from behind by Parker's Toyota Camry, police said. The impact sent her car spinning into the path of an oncoming NStar pickup truck.
The pickup's driver, Francine Abbott, 48, had no chance of stopping before she slammed into the passenger side of Carhart's Tracker, police said. Carhart was pronounced dead at Falmouth Hospital.
Asked what went wrong Monday, Parker said, ''It's an investigation. I don't want to be on the record.'' He referred all other questions to his attorney but declined to say who represents him. ''Go to the hearing and find out.''
No date has been set for his arraignment. He will be summonsed to court, police said.Meanwhile, Parker is due back in Falmouth District Court Tuesday for a hearing on the Bourne arrest.Parker has not been charged with operating under the influence in Monday's crash. Sandwich Police Chief Michael J. Miller said the investigation continues and there could be additional charges filed.
Meanwhile, family and friends are gathering this morning at the First Congregational Church in Fairhaven to mourn Carhart's death.Her husband, Lloyd, died one year ago. Carhart is survived by two children, four stepchildren and three grandchildren.George Brennan can be reached at gbrennan@capecodonline.com.(Published: March 10, 2007)
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