Christopher Parker stands in Barnstable District Court yesterday as he receives his sentence for motor vehicle homicide.
-Cape Cod Times /Paul Blackmore
BARNSTABLE — The morning of March 5 was a typical one for Diane Carhart.
After hanging up the phone with her daughter, she was off to get her vanilla-frosted doughnut with sprinkles and an iced coffee.
After hanging up the phone with her daughter, she was off to get her vanilla-frosted doughnut with sprinkles and an iced coffee.
The 63-year-old Forestdale grandmother was on Route 130 waiting to turn left into the Dunkin' Donuts parking lot at the Tradewinds Plaza in Sandwich when a Honda Accord slammed her Chevy Tracker from behind. Carhart's vehicle careened into the path of an on-coming NStar truck.
Carhart died shortly after.
Yesterday, Christopher G. Parker, 50, of Forestdale, the driver of the Honda, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and was sentenced to two and a half years in the Barnstable County Correctional Facility, the maximum allowed. Parker's inattention as he bent down to adjust a portable radio caused the crash, according to police.
The last six months of his sentence will be suspended, and he will be on probation following his release from jail. He will also serve a 10-day concurrent sentence for driving with a suspended license at the time of the accident.
"I don't think the sentence fit the crime, but he got what the state laws were," said Carhart's daughter, Susan Linhares of Mattapoisett following yesterday's proceeding in Barnstable District Court.
"I would like to see him serve all two and half years, but I'm glad that this is over and my family can move on," Linhares said.
Reading from victim impact statements composed by herself and her brother, John Everett of Williams, Ariz., she told the court that her mother had been her best friend — standing by her through many difficult times, including a recent battle with a brain tumor.
"I need my mother, I'm scared of life without her," she read.
Francine Abbott, who was driving the NStar truck and received an ankle injury in the crash, also read a statement.
"Because of you, my life and my family's life has been altered. Since that day, I've lived in pain and fear," she said. Abbott sobbed quietly as attorneys went over the details of the accident, and embraced Carhart's daughter after the sentence was read.
Parker apologized for the pain he caused Carhart's family. "If I could change anything it would be that day," said. Parker, who is already serving time on an unrelated matter. "I know my incarceration's going to be nothing compared to the loss of a human life."
Parker has a lengthy driving infraction record, which includes four drunken driving convictions, dating back to 1982. He also has a case pending in Falmouth District Court on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs in October in Bourne.
He is due back in court for this charge tomorrow.
Stephanie Vosk can be reached at svosk@capecodonline.com.
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