WILTON — Joseph Breton was driving with a revoked license when he caused the crash that took his life and that of a woman in an oncoming vehicle Monday on U.S. Route 2.

Breton, 36, of Jay, had no license because of multiple driving offenses dating back to 1995, according to Franklin County Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson Thursday. He said those offenses included six for operating after his license had been suspended or revoked.

Breton was driving west toward Wilton around 4 p.m. Monday when he made an unsafe attempt to pass and struck a pickup truck driven by David Miller, 44, of Wilton, police said. Meta Sevigny, 80, who was a passenger in the truck, was killed. Miller was hospitalized and was last listed in fair condition.

Breton’s passenger, Carlton Elliott, 22, of Industry, was also hospitalized and was in stable condition after the crash.

Breton was convicted of operating under the influence in 1999 and again in 2008. He had four convictions for operating after suspension, two for operating after revocation and his license was revoked indefinitely as a habitual offender, according to Robinson and court records.

Breton was sentenced in 2010 to serve six months in jail and pay a $1,000 fine for operating after revocation, with one prior conviction for the same charge, Robinson said.

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The 2010 sentence, which was for Breton’s most recent driving offense, was the mandatory minimum based on the charge under Tina’s Law, Robinson said. The maximum sentence is five years in jail and a $5,000 fine. Tina’s Law, which went into effect in 2006, required tougher sentences for repeat suspended drivers. It was named for a Scarborough woman, Tina Turcotte, who was killed in Hallowell in 2005 by a trucker with a multiple driving offenses.

Robinson did not have details Thursday about Breton’s cases, but said the circumstances of the offense influence the severity of the sentence. The court looks at several factors, such as crashes or drunken driving, to determine if a tougher sentence is warranted than the mandatory minimum, Robinson said.

Robinson said he believes the law was followed by the court in Breton’s cases.

“I don’t know what more you can do,” he said. “You’ve used a deterrent of jail time and a high fine and he still got behind a wheel.”

After the initial collision Monday, a car driven by Thomas Lake, 50, of Jay, also struck Breton’s car. Lake was not hurt, Wilton Police Chief Heidi Wilcox said.

She said Wednesday that the police investigation determined excessive speed and reckless driving caused the crash.

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Sevigny’s son Gilbert Miller, 47, of Wilton, said the family was not ready to talk about the crash Thursday.

Sevigny lived in Farmington before her husband of 30 years, Marius Sevigny, died Dec. 3 at age 76. She had been living with her son David and his wife, Jennifer, in the weeks before the crash.

Police incorrectly reported after the crash that Sevigny lived in New Vineyard, Gilbert Miller said.

Meta Sevigny leaves behind three sons, two daughters and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had another son who died at six months old.

David Robinson – 861-9287

drobinson@centralmaine.com

 


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