Driver pleads not guilty in fatal crash
By GEORGE BRENNAN STAFF WRITER
May 10, 2007
BARNSTABLE — Christopher Parker, who has been convicted of impaired driving four times, pleaded not guilty yesterday to vehicular homicide. He faces the charge in connection with a three-car crash that killed a Forestdale grandmother in March.
Parker, 50, was taken into custody on the homicide charge two weeks ago after a Falmouth District Court judge revoked his bail in an unrelated case. He is charged in that case with operating under the influence of drugs.
The law allows a judge to send a defendant to jail for up to 60 days if he is charged with another crime while out on bail. Parker is still being held at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility in Bourne on that bail revocation.
Barnstable District Court Judge W. James O'Neill yesterday imposed bail of $10,000 cash, $1,000 surety, Cape and Islands First Assistant District Attorney Michael Trudeau said. Prosecutors had requested Parker be held on $20,000 cash bail. Even if he can post that bail, he can't be released until his current 60-day sentence is served.
Diane Carhart, 63, was killed March 5 when her Chevrolet Tracker was struck from behind on Route 130 by Parker's car and pushed into the lane of an oncoming NStar pickup truck, according to police.
"It's been really hard leading up to Mother's Day," Susan Linhares, Carhart's daughter, said. "Everywhere you turn, there are reminders and it's very difficult."
Linhares and two of Carhart's brothers were in the court when Parker was arraigned.
Parker was also charged with driving while his license was revoked. Trudeau said the investigation is ongoing, but declined to say if he expects more charges against Parker.
Yesterday's arraignment has been a long time coming for Carhart's family. Parker was taken to Falmouth Hospital with minor injuries he suffered in the crash, so rather than being arrested he was issued a summons on the charges. The family then had to wait until a clerk magistrate issued a criminal complaint against Parker.
Parker has an extensive poor driving record that includes the four operating under the influence convictions. His license was revoked at the time of the Sandwich crash by the registry because police considered him an immediate danger to the public.
"We're thankful he's behind bars where he can't hurt anyone else," Linhares said. "I was talking to my uncle and we're hopeful he gets the treatment he needs."
George Brennan can be reached at gbrennan@capecodonline.com.
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