Passenger charged in fatal 2022 crash that killed 4 Maine Maritime students takes plea deal

A woman involved in a car crash that killed four Maine Maritime Academy students in December 2022 had reached a plea agreement.

Noelle Tavares, 22, was indicted last August on four charges of manslaughter, four counts of aggravated criminal operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, two counts of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, two counts of driving to endanger, and one count of criminal speed.

Tavares, of North Falmouth, Massachusetts, was a passenger in a car with six other Maine Maritime students when it crashed in Castine on Dec. 10, as the group was returning from a night out in Bangor. Though Tavares was not the driver of the car, she was charged under a provision of state law known as accomplice liability.

The students who died in the fiery wreck were Chase Fossett, 21, of Gardiner; Riley Ignacio-Cameron, 20, of Aquinnah, Massachusetts; Brian Kenealy, 20, of York; and Luke Simpson, 22, of Rockport, Massachusetts. Also injured in the crash was Dominick Gecoya, 22, of Middleton, Massachusetts.

In court on Friday, Tavares pleaded guilty to a felony account of furnishing liquor to a minor, News Center Maine reported.

Various other charges against Tavares were dropped as part of the plea agreement, and sentencing has been deferred for two years, according to WABI . She is also forbidden from using drugs or alcohol.

If she meets those conditions, the felony charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor and she will pay a $500 fine.

Driver Joshua Goncalves-Radding, 21, of Long Island, New York, pleaded guilty in August to four counts of manslaughter, five felony charges of aggravated operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, two felony counts of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, and one count each of criminal speed and unlawful use of license, both of which are misdemeanors.

After his plea, he received an overall sentence of 18 years with all but three years suspended, meaning he has to spend three years in prison right away. Upon his release, he will have to serve four years of probation and could be sent back to prison for another 15 years if he breaks the law.

BDN reporter Bill Trotter contributed to this report.