Woman Struck, Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver In Gray

A woman is dead after she was struck by a driver who is suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol, and had his daughter in the car.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office say deputies and members of the Gray Fire/Rescue were called to 39 Yarmouth Road in Gray just before 8:00 Saturday evening to a report of a pedestrian who had been hit by a vehicle. When they arrived, they found 40-year-old Samantha Rinaldi of Gray unresponsive in the roadway. She was taken by ambulance to Maine Medical Center, where she died of her injuries. Rinaldi leaves behind four children, ages 20 to 14.

The vehicle involved in the crash was a silver 2015 Honda Civic, driven by 58-year-old Jay Westra of North Yarmouth. He was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and taken to the Cumberland County Jail. Mr. Westra's 11-year-old daughter was in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

The Portland Press Herald reports Westra is the husband of Chebeague Island School teacher Kristen Westra, who went missing last fall. Six days after her disappearance, her body was found in the woods, and her death ruled a suicide.

The crash is under investigation by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Detectives, as well as Reconstructionists from the Windham and Gorham Police Departments.