BELFAST, Maine — One year ago, Louise Boudreau-Bouchard of Searsport was an active woman who helped build her dream house in Maine, loved to quilt and was a hands-on mother and grandmother.
But on March 23, 2011, that life changed forever when William Hinkle Jr., 35, of Frankfort pulled out to pass a vehicle on Route 1A and crashed head-on into the blue Subaru sedan that she was driving. Boudreau-Bouchard suffered a traumatic brain injury, a nearly severed right arm, facial lacerations and more in the accident.
On Friday, her husband, Larry Bouchard, was in Waldo County Superior Court to witness Hinkle being sentenced to a five-year prison term with all but 2½ years suspended on the charges that stemmed from the accident. Bouchard received a personal apology from Hinkle before the sentencing hearing and then listened as Hinkle addressed the court.
“I’m sorry for what I’ve brought to the family,” Hinkle said. “I can’t imagine the pain they’re going through. I’m sorry.”
In February, he had pleaded guilty to aggravated driving to endanger and to operating under the influence as well as unlawful trafficking in marijuana and possession of cocaine.
Justice Robert Murray agreed to the plea agreement made between Waldo County Deputy District Attorney Eric Walker and Hinkle’s defense attorney Peter Baldacci of Bangor.
Under the agreement, Hinkle will spend 2½ years in prison and spend two years on probation. During that time, he will not be allowed to use or possess alcohol or illegal drugs and must submit to random searches and testing for those substances.
He also must pay nearly $20,000 in restitution to Boudreau-Bouchard and her family, as well as other fines and fees.
Walker told the court that Boudreau-Bouchard could not be present at the hearing because of her continuing medical problems. He said that Hinkle showed remorse for his actions minutes after the crash happened.
“He has accepted responsibility in a timely fashion,” Walker said.
Attorney Christiana Mann of Falmouth read a statement on behalf of Boudreau-Bouchard and her family. She told the court that the couple, who previously had lived in Massachusetts, had long dreamed of moving to Maine to retire. About a year before the accident, they finally did so.
But after the accident, the family faced a long, hard recovery that will never be completed, she said.
“They lost the future that they had planned to share together,” Mann said. “Louise easily becomes agitated, anxious and confused. She lives with fear.”
Baldacci said that since the crash, his client has attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and has spent the last three months in counseling.
“He’s been cooperative and accepting of responsibility,” the attorney said.
After the hearing, Hinkle was put into handcuffs and remanded into the custody of the Maine Department of Corrections.
Larry Bouchard, who declined to speak with the press, said through Mann that he felt that the sentence was fair.
Baldacci said that while Hinkle’s family will “feel the loss” of a son and husband, they know he will come back home.
“He’s a good person who made some terrible choices,” said Leslie Wilkes, his ex-wife.
Before imposing the sentence, Justice Murray said he hoped that Hinkle has learned a lesson.
“They are clearly life-changing events,” he said of the crash and its aftermath. “I can only hope that it is a life-changing event for you, as well.”
Two and a half years for this man is nothing compared to what this woman and her husband will endure forever because of him. She will never be the same. I don’t see anything in this article about this mans license. He should not be eligible to have a license again ever. A license is a privilege he should never again enjoy. The victim here will never drive again and neither should he. His being sorry today is a small consolation for this couple. Very sad.
From the article: “I’m sorry for what I’ve brought to the family,” Hinkle said. “I can’t imagine the pain they’re going through. I’m sorry.”
Why do these sort of apologies always sound rehearsed? It always seems people such as Hinkle always say the same thing. It would be nice to read a truly heartfelt apology from someone such as Hinkle because with what he said I honestly feel he was just paying lip service to the victim and nothing more.
He destroyed a woman’s life and that is the best he can say? I’m not buying it.
If he had been required to do the full 5 years in prison, I am sure that his “apology” wouldn’t sound so rehearsed.
The prosecutor most likely consulted with the family of the victim in this matter. If that was the case then it appears that the family wanted punishment and not revenge or vengeance for the defendant.
because we’ve become pathetic sheep , and it s the best we can do….baaa bbaaa baa baaa
What an insult to this badly injured woman and her family – two and a half years! Would the D.A. have been that agreeable if it were his wife who would never be the same again?
Ex-wifey “will feel the loss of a son and husband, they know he will come back.” Yeah, it’s too bad that this poor lady “won’t come back” from her horrible injuries.
It is almost never necessary to pass another vehicle, especially on a road like Rt. 1A, where there are passing lanes in both directions, where it can be done safely. You might have to wait a bit, but you can pass.
How many times have I been passed–doing the speed limit, or above–with the passer endangering my life, the lives of oncoming traffic, and their own lives, just for what, 20 feet of advantage?
I am often passed–if at all possible, I slow down, and pull to right to aid their passing–and then travel along several more miles until there is a traffic light or stop sign, and guess what? There is the passer, directly in front of me, at the stop sign, 20 feet further along the road than I am. Great “victory” for them…
Pass with great caution, and only when necessary!
You are right! 10 minutes further down the road at the nest stop sign you come up either right behind or 2 cars back from the person who risked so many lives just to get 100 feet ahead of everyone. Ridiculous.
I am terribly saddened by the struggles the Boudreau-Bouchard family faces. I am also saddened by the thought that not only are their lives changed forever but so is the life of Mr Hinkle and his family, due to one act of poor judgement on his part. At least, he has accepted and owned his part in this tragedy.
Reading this story should give us all cause to stop and reflect for moment on how quickly our lives can change forever.
Good comment but most of us don’t learn from someone else’s pain. A few years back I lost my wife in a head on collision. No alcoholic or drugs were involved. I think of that accident every single day. We never think we will be the one but don’t bank on it. We are granted this moment in time and nothing beyond. Mr Hinkle was wrong but nothing can right what’s wrong. Sometimes we just have to accept the hand we’ve been dealt and try to find peace however we can. I lost my only child to cancer since my wife’s passing but I don’t want to swap places with
the Boudreau-Bouchard’s or Hinkle.
Suspended sentence…Joke. This guy was a scumbag and still is…He’ll be out and on the prowl in 30 months and I guarantee we’ll see his mug shot again. For all those sob story artists who blubber about “second chances”…You get a second chance when you forget to take the trash out…not when you mangle another human being because your a drunk driving coke freak. NUFF said.
Choosing to drink and drive is no accident. Accidents happen when you do your best to drive safely and something happens anyway. Getting drunk and driving is not doing your best. It is making a bad decision, deliberately, and bad things happen as a consequence. No accident.