Farm pleads guilty to lesser count in deadly hayride crash
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A Maine farm has pleaded guilty for its role in a holiday hayride crash two years ago that killed a teenager and injured more than 20 people.
Harvest Hill Farms pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of driving to endanger in exchange for dismissal of a more serious manslaughter charge. Under the plea agreement, most of a $7,500 fine will go to charity, along with restitution to be sorted out later.
The October 2014 crash in Mechanic Falls claimed the life of 17-year-old Cassidy Charette. Her parents' attorney said the company "chose profit ahead of safety."
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Prosecutors said farm workers knew the Jeep that was hauling the hay wagon had bad brakes. The driver was acquitted and charges against a mechanic were dropped.