A Holden man has denied driving drunk and causing a crash that killed a longtime friend two years ago.
Phillip Tardiff, 55, pleaded not guilty Friday at the Penobscot Judicial Center in Bangor to one count each of manslaughter and aggravated operating while under the influence of intoxicants in connection with the July 28, 2015, death of Margaret Park, 49, of Holden.
Tardiff, who allegedly was driving Park’s Buick sedan when he lost control at a curve on Copeland Hill Road in Holden, remained Monday at the Penobscot County Jail unable to post $10,000 cash bail.
Park’s Buick went off the road to the right, then diagonally crossed the road and overturned in a stand of trees, Holden police Sgt. Gene Fizell said a few days after the crash.
Park was pronounced dead at the scene and Tardiff was injured, according to Fizell.
Police initially believed Park was the driver because she was seen driving the car earlier on the day she died, Marianne Lynch, assistant district attorney for Penobscot County, said Monday.
“The medical examiner’s autopsy report showed that she was the passenger, not the driver,” the prosecutor said.
Tardiff and Park were longtime friends, according to Lynch.
Tardiff was indicted Wednesday by the Penobscot County grand jury. The indictment was sealed until he made his arraignment Friday.
He is next due in court on Dec. 11.
Attorney David Bate of Bangor, appointed to represent Tardiff, said Monday morning that he had not yet met with his client.
If convicted, Tardiff faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 on the manslaughter charge. He faces up to 10 years and a $20,000 fine if convicted on the drunken driving charge.
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