Tractor-trailer driver in fatal crash gets $310 fine

CONWAY — The tractor-trailer driver involved in a fatal crash last summer that killed a man driving a pickup truck on Route 302 in Center Conway received a fine after pleading no contest to negligent driving last week. 

Steven Hawkes, 54, of Porter, Maine, was killed on July 12, 2024, in the collision between his 2002 Ford F150 pickup and the 2022 Peterbilt pulling a 2009 Manac trailer driven by Andrew Ouellette, then 35, of Limerick, Maine, that occurred on Route 302 (East Main Street) about a mile from Fryeburg, Maine at about 3:48 p.m. 

New Hampshire State Police filed several charges in April in connection with the fatal crash. 

The negligent driving complaint filed by Trooper First Class Daniel Quartulli said: "The defendant did: drive a motor vehicle, a 2022 Peterbilt 389, upon a way, East Main Street in the town of Center Conway, NH, negligently, to wit, the defendant failed to maintain attention to the roadway to such an extent that he was not aware of traffic stopped ahead of him, resulting in a collision, in a manner that endangered or was likely to endanger persons or property." 

Police dropped a misdemeanor charge of vehicular assault that alleged that Ouellette's "inattentiveness" caused the fatal collision. They also dropped a violation-level complaint of reckless operation that alleged that Ouellette drove recklessly on East Main Street. 

On Aug. 5, Ouellette was in Conway's Circuit Court, with Judge Charles Greenhalgh presiding.  

Oullette was represented by Michael Iacopino of Brennan Lenehan Iacopino & Hickey in Manchester. 

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After he pleaded no contest, the judge fined Ouellette $310, which he paid.

According to his online obituary, Hawkes was a family man who grew up in Maine and worked as a maintenance supervisor for Hunting Dearborn. 

"He just loved being with his family, campfires, frisbees with his boys, doing whatever his granddaughter wanted, date nights and night walks with his wife, family Sunday night dinners, he loved teasing his daughter, haying and sawing with his son-in-law," states the obituary at mainefuneral.com.

 "He enjoyed learning anything new, helping anyone in need, anything outdoors, would smoke or grill anything, loved to bake his sourdough bread, learning about apple trees from Patrick, would do anything for his family, loved family movie nights, traveling with his wife to new areas of ME, and exploring new things."

 Citing their strong Christian faith, Sylvie Hawkes, Steven’s wife, said there are no plans to pursue a civil case against Ouellette and in fact they pray for him. They also keep the memories of Steven Hawkes in their hearts.