/

Passenger in fatal crash accused of deceiving Farmington police

4 mins read
A cross, flowers and other mementos marks the guardrail near the intersection of Route 133
A cross, flowers and other mementos marks the guardrail near the intersection of the Livermore Falls and Wilton roads where Taylor Gaboury was struck and killed by a vehicle operated by Tommy Clark, 26 of Industry.

FARMINGTON – A passenger in the vehicle that struck and killed a pedestrian in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day was indicted by the Franklin County grand jury for allegedly lying to police about the incident.

Nikita Tolman, 27, of Kingfield, was indicted on one count of hindering apprehension or prosecution, a Class C felony, and one count of misdemeanor filing a false public report. The charges allege that Tolman attempted to deceive investigators in regards to the Jan. 1 crash that killed Taylor Gaboury, 21.

On July 25, Tommy Clark, 26 of Industry, was sentenced to seven years in prison with all but three years suspended and three years of probation, having previously pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal operating under the influence, a Class B felony, and to leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury or death, a Class C felony.

Gaboury of Wilton was struck from behind by the car Clark was driving as she walked east along Wilton Road/Routes 2&4, near the intersection of Route 133/Livermore Falls Road in the early morning hours of Jan. 1. After finding that Gaboury was deceased, Clark fled the scene.

Tolman was one of two women who contacted the Regional Communications Center that morning, resulting in Farmington and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel being dispatched to the scene. First responders located Gaboury down an embankment, with NorthStar EMS confirming that she was deceased. The women reportedly told FPD Officer Michael Lyman that they had discovered Gaboury after seeing a boot in the road while walking back from a party.

FCSO provided Tolman and the other woman back to the Colonial Valley Motel. According to court documents, Lyman discussed the women’s stories with FPD Sgt. Edward Hastings IV, finding them “highly suspicious” and the statements “very questionable.” As a result, Lyman immediately left for the Colonial Valley Motel.

Once there, according to court documents, Lyman was able to locate a 2015 Dodge Dart in the area of the room in which the two women were staying. The extensively damaged vehicle was missing a passenger side mirror that had the same maroon paint as a mirror found at the intersection. Clark was located, sitting in another vehicle, and was arrested once police pieced together what happened. His blood alcohol level test was .129 percent, above the 0.08 percent at which point a person is considered driving under the influence.

Lyman re-interviewed both women and determined they were in the vehicle when the crash occurred. Tolman was Clark’s girlfriend and, according to police, “was trying to help him conceal this crash.” Police say they later learned that Tolman was in the front passenger seat, saw Gaboury prior to the crash and attempted to alert Clark but not in time to avoid the collision.

The other passenger has not been indicted or charged with any crime.

The hindering apprehension or prosecution felony indictment alleges that Tolman intended to “hinder, prevent or delay the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment of Tommy Clark.”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.