CASTINE, Maine — A woman facing charges related to a deadly crash in December 2022 that killed four Maine Maritime Academy students is expected to accept to attend a plea hearing in November.
Noelle Tavares, 21, pleaded not guilty in August 2023 to several charges related to the crash including manslaughter, aggravated operating under the influence, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, driving to endanger, and reckless speed. She is accused of being an "accomplice or co-conspirator" in connection with the crash.
Tavares is accused of facilitating the conduct that led to the tragedy, even though she wasn't the driver, according to Hancock County district attorney Robert Granger.
Tavares is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 8 for a "rule 11 hearing" at Hancock County Superior Court, according to court paperwork. In many cases in Maine, this indicates a defendant is changing their plea.
The driver, Joshua Goncalves-Radding of North Babylon, New York, changed his plea to guilty during a rule 11 hearing. A judge sentenced him in June 2024 to three years in prison and three years of probation.
Goncalves-Radding was driving a Land Rover on Shore Road in Castine at more than 100 mph when it went about 60 feet into the air, traveled nearly the entire length of a football field, hit a tree, and burst into flames, according to prosecutors. He was under the age of 21 at the time, and 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.
The crash killed 20-year-old Brian Kenealy of York; 21-year-old Chase Fossett of Gardiner; 22-year-old Luke Simpson of Rockport, Massachusetts; and 20-year-old Riley Ignacio-Cameron of Aquinnah, Massachusetts.
The third person to survive the crash, Dominick Gecoya of Middleton, Massachusetts, was also indicted on charges related to the crash. He pleaded not guilty in June 2023.
