FARMINGTON — A Kingfield woman is denying that she helped her boyfriend conceal a drunken hit-and-run crash on New Year’s Day that killed an East Wilton woman.

Nikita Tolman, 27, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a felony charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution and a misdemeanor charge of false public report, according to Franklin County District Court documents. She was indicted on the charges in August.

Taylor Gaboury, 21, of East Wilton was killed by a drunken driver early New Year's day on Route 2 in Farmington. Contributed photo

Tolman was one of two female passengers in Tommy Clark’s car when he struck and killed Taylor Gaboury, 21, early on the morning of Jan. 1 while Clark was driving drunk on Route 2 in Farmington.

Clark pleaded guilty in June to aggravated operating under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. He has begun serving his prison sentence of seven years, with four years suspended.

Gaboury was walking to her parents’ home in Farmington when Clark struck her near Franklin Memorial Hospital. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tolman, who had not been charged previously with a crime, was sitting in the passenger’s seat and saw Gaboury before the crash, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in conjunction with Clark’s case. She tried to alert Clark but it was too late, the affidavit says.

Clark checked on Gaboury after hitting her with his car, but when he realized she was dead he fled to the Colonial Valley Motel, where police found him later.

As he fled the scene, Clark left Tolman and the other passenger, who has not been charged with a crime, at the entrance to Webber Insurance Agency just down the road from where Gaboury was struck. Tolman called 911 at 1:40 a.m. to report that a woman had been hit by a car, the affidavit states.

When police arrived, the passengers told officers that they’d seen a boot in the road, which led them to find Gaboury in the embankment behind the guardrail. After being interviewed by police, the passengers were taken to Colonial Valley Motel, where they were staying.

The affidavit says police found the interview “highly suspicious” and went to the motel, where they saw Clark in Tolman’s Dodge Intrepid. Tolman’s car was parked directly beside Clark’s Dodge Dart, which had signs of extensive damage to the front passenger side.

Tolman’s bail was set at $3,000 unsecured bond. Her next court appearance is Dec. 5 for a dispositional conference.

Tolman’s attorney, Chris Berryment, did not respond to a message left Wednesday. Assistant District Attorney Clair Andrews, who is prosecuting the case, was unavailable for comment.

Lauren Abbate can be contacted at 861-9252 or at:

labbate@centralmaine.com

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