Medical Examiner Says Holden Man Was Driving In Fatal Crash

A Holden man faces charges, including manslaughter, after a State Medical Examiner's report identified him as the driver in a fatal crash.

49-year-old Margaret Park of Holden was killed in the 2015 crash that happened on the Copeland Hill Road in Holden. Police say the vehicle went off the road on the right, then shot diagonally across the road, overturning in a stand of trees. Park died at the scene and her longtime friend, Phillip Tardiff was hurt.

Initially, police believed Park was the driver since she'd been seen behind the wheel earlier in the day, and it was her car. But the State Medical Examiner's office determined that she was in the passenger seat and Tardiff was behind the wheel. He's been charged with one count each of manslaughter and aggravated operating under the influence of intoxicants.

The BDN reports the 55-year-old was in court on Friday and pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 on the manslaughter charge and faces up to 10 years and a $20,000 fine if convicted on the OUI charge.