ELLSWORTH, Maine — A former Maine Maritime Academy student whose SUV crashed, killing four fellow students in December 2022, was sentenced in a Hancock County court on Friday.
The judge sentenced Joshua Goncalves-Radding, of North Babylon, New York, to three years in prison and three years of probation after he pleaded guilty to all 13 charges, including manslaughter and unlawful use of a license.
The judge also suspended Goncalves-Radding's license for 10 years.
According to prosecutors, the SUV he was driving was traveling more than 100 miles per hour before going nearly 60 feet airborne and traveling nearly the entire length of a football field. Goncalves-Radding was under the age of 21 at the time of the crash. Police say he had alcohol and marijuana in his system.
The crash happened after the students had gone out following the last day of classes for the semester.
Killed in the December 2022 crash were Brian Kenealy, 20, of York, Maine; Chase Fossett, 21, of Gardiner, Maine; Luke Simpson, 22, of Rockport, Massachusetts; and Riley Ignacio-Cameron, 20, of Aquinnah, Massachusetts, officials said. Goncalves-Radding and two other students survived the crash.
Goncalves-Radding showed remorse for his actions in court as he spoke to the judge, explaining that he understood the consequences for his actions.
"I wish I died that day, and many times I still feel that way," Goncalves-Radding said. "I get to have a life, and I took the life of my friends."
Family members of Chase Fosset, who died in the crash, embraced Goncalves-Radding with love.
"I had this overwhelming feeling of needing to live in love and light for Chase. Chase wouldn't want us to hold on to anger," Fossett said. "This was a tragedy. He loved everyone in that car, and no one wanted this to happen."
The judge said he considered Goncalves-Radding's age at the time of the incident, the fact that he had a clean driving and criminal record, and the fact that he is educated, seeking counseling, and taking accountability while deciding his sentencing.
Goncalves-Radding reported to prison directly after his sentencing.