FARMINGTON — A Dexter man who crashed an 18-wheeler into a YMCA minivan in August, killing a 12-year-old girl from Connecticut, is contesting a three-year license suspension.
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Charles Willey, 54, will contest the suspension this morning at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles hearing at 10 a.m. in Augusta, according to Megan Sanborn, special assistant to the secretary of state.
The girl’s mother, Suzanne Tanner, on Wednesday said she plans to attend the hearing because she has public safety concerns.
Tanner, 49, declined to talk about her daughter or details of the crash investigation, saying her goal is to ensure the legal system protects others.
“There’s not a lot I can do to help my daughter right now, but what I can do is try to help others and to make sure this doesn’t happen to other people,” Tanner said.
Willey’s license suspension stems from the crash in Farmington on Aug. 17. Investigators ruled that excessive speed caused Willey to lose control of the tractor-trailer on a sharp curving yield entrance to U.S. Route 2 in Farmington.
The tractor-trailer veered across the center line and hit the minivan, which was stopped in traffic on the other side of the road. Tess Meisel, of Westport, Conn., was killed when the truck hit the minivan, crushing the rear row of seats where Meisel was sitting.
A police investigation found the tractor-trailer was going 11 mph over the speed limit, Willey did not have a criminal background and no other factors other than speed contributed to the crash. The posted speed limit on the yield entrance is 30 mph.
Willey is contesting his license suspension for negligent operation resulting in the death of another person, according to Thomas Marjerison, a Portland defense attorney representing him.
Willey faces a civil infraction charge of causing the death of person while committing a traffic infraction, according to court records. His next court date is Tuesday in Farmington District Court.
Marjerison would not comment on that case, saying he will address the issue at the motor vehicle bureau hearing today and court proceedings next week.
Willey previously paid a waiver fee to settle an imprudent speed traffic violation in connection with the fatal crash, Marjerison said. The defense attorney described that charge as a civil traffic infraction that is settled by payment of a waiver fee, which is not an admission of guilt.
After reviewing a police investigation into the crash, Franklin County Assistant District Attorney James Andrews last fall said his office would not pursue criminal charges against Willey.
Andrews cited insufficient evidence to prove Willey was criminally negligent in causing the crash. The law that separates criminal speeding charges from civil violation typically requires a vehicle must be going at least 30 mph over the speed limit. Road conditions and other factors are also taken into account.
The tractor-trailer Willey was driving is owned by Linkletter Trucking of Athens, according to Andrews.
The district attorney’s office in March filed the causing death of a person while committing a traffic infraction charge, Andrews said Wednesday. He said the charge stemmed from a 2009 law that expands upon the state government’s administrative procedure for suspending the license of drivers who cause the death of another.
Penalties for the civil infraction include a fine of up to $5,000 and a license suspension of 14 days to four years.
Tanner on Wednesday would not discuss details of the Farmington court proceedings, saying she is considering filing a civil lawsuit in connection with her daughter’s death.
“There is absolute negligence in this case, and there needs to be justice,” she said.
Willey and the owners of Linkletter Trucking did not return a call Wednesday.
The minivan was owned by YMCA Camp Jewell in Colebrook, Conn., and was traveling from Acadia National Park to a park in Vermont. Two other girls from Connecticut were injured in the crash and were treated and released from hospitals later that same day.
David F. Robinson — 861-9287
drobinson@centralmaine.com
Staff writer Betty Adams contributed to this report.
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