Police: Fatal crash caused by unsafe pass, driver’s license had been revoked
Firefighters move around two badly damaged vehicles on the Wilton Road near Comfort Inn Monday night.
WILTON - The operator of a vehicle involved in a Route 2 crash Monday evening that resulted in two fatalities had no license and was classified as a habitual offender, police said today.
Investigators believe that a 2004 Chrysler Sebring, operated by Joseph Breton, 36 of Jay, was attempting to pass another vehicle while traveling westbound on the Wilton Road when the collision occurred. According to Wilton Police Department Chief Heidi Wilcox, Breton's license had been revoked by the state and he was classified as a habitual offender. That status is applied to individuals by the secretary of state after they are convicted of three or more criminal convictions involving vehicles in a five-year period.
Investigators believe that Breton's vehicle collided head-on with a 2000 Ford Ranger, operated by David Miller, 44 of Wilton. The pickup truck's passenger, his mother, Meta Sevigny, 80 of New Vineyard, and Breton were killed in the crash.
A passenger in the Sebring, Carlton Elliott, 22 of Industry, as well as Miller were transported to nearby Franklin Memorial Hospital by NorthStar Emergency Medical Services. They were later moved to other hospitals and Wilcox reported they were listed as being in a stable condition as of Tuesday.
A third vehicle, a 2000 Saturn operated by Thomas Lake, 50 of Jay, sustained minor damage after it collided with the Sebring while trying to avoid the crash. Lake was unhurt.
Firefighters and police from both Farmington and Wilton were at the scene for hours Monday evening, rerouting traffic to Rt. 133. Accident reconstruction and forensic mapping of the scene was completed by the Franklin County Sheriff's Department. The crash was investigated by WPD Sgt. Richard Billian.
The primary factors in the collision, Wilcox said Wednesday, were believed to be speed and reckless driving. The area where Breton attempted to pass another vehicle, near the Comfort Inn, is marked as a no-pass zone.
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@Michelle... i agree with you... I LOVE the daily bulldog, but when the responses have gotten so extremly personal and with kids in mind. Yeh. I think an end to the chance to bash each other needs to be taken on by bulldog. Keep us all updated, but enough people. Obviously there is pain on both sides to this story. My heart goes out to each and every one of you.
I am outraged that so many people want to control the opinions and the freedom of speech in this forum. Maybe the Bulldog shouldn't have reported the truth about that mans license status. Why is it whenever anything is painful or true everyone wants to shove it under the carpet and not talk about it. I believe awareness may actually prevent someone from doing this themselves. Imagine knowing that it will be in the press (and nobody can stop that) if you make bad mistakes and kill innocent people. Of course it is devastating that the children may hear about it but it is up to the surviving parents to monitor what their children do and read on the internet.Right? If you who want this forum stopped have such a problem with it my suggestion would be, don't read it.
My heart is saddened for the loss of a wonderful lady. I know the daughter of Breton is grieving, but so isn't the children, grand children, great grand children, and great,great granchild. I know it is upsetting to Breton's family is upset with the voices and concerns of the community but to say I we are cold hearted and need to get a life is wrong. I have a life, I just don't want to lose it to an repeatedly irresponsible driver as I am sure is the case with many others. I want to grow old and watch my great grand children grow, something that was needlessly stolen from Meta and her family. I am sorry for the little girl, but if you don't want her reading this stuff keep her off from it, I am sure she is aware of what is going on just from listening to the news. Yes the family of Meta and David is angry and irritated with this horrible situation but with due rights. And the more information and circumstances we learn the more we are appauled that Breton was on the road. Yes this nightmare could have been avoided and there is no way for anyone to justify other. I am sorry if Breton's family and friends do not like what they are reading, but fact is fact and if the shoe was on the other foot and Meta was the one driving with Breton's driving record I am sure they would understand our feelings and anger. A precious life was taken away needlessly due to poor choices. Yes we all make mistakes,and we have to face the consequences of those poor choices and learn how to correct them. But we should not have to be subjected to facing consequences and losing loved ones because some one kept making stupid carless choices and not care to learn from them. Dave I love you and I know you have a long recovery ahead of you. Dave, Jenni, Alissa, and Jacob I love you lots and my prayers and thoughts are with you and Meta's family. A friendly word of wisdom to all: Drive safe and if you don't belong driving DON'T DRIVE.
TO NOT SO GOOD.......
Well said. It is not the new papers responsibly to stop the press just in case a child reads something, if that was the case then 90% of the evening news would not air. We all have freedom of speech and what this man did was wrong. He took life and his own. This is a very sad story but he was the one that made that decision to drive. Just like someone makes a decision to drink and drive and a decision to text and drive all have taken lives away from us. Made if kids do read, see and hear this it might help later in life to make the right decisions and not the wrong ones. Made this story will help someone. If you know someone that does not have a license maybe you should ask why and it is not only one conviction to loose it. So if they are that bad of a driver then maybe you should stop them because just because you can start a car does not mean you know how to drive safely.
This is an open forum of the community.. Thank you Bulldog for the opportunity to speak our minds.. I am well aware that you will not allow inappropriate statements or behavior to be expressed.
Of course people are angry and venting. This was an avoidable tragedy. Joe was an accident waiting to happen. The story not being reported on is, who enabled him to get behind the wheel.. I see no reports of him beating someone up to steal their car. Someone put the keys in his hand either physically or by allowing him to drive in the first place.. Was this the one and only time he has driven since his suspension? There is lots untold here and it should probably remain that way.
The problem is much deeper than "Joe". I am part of the problem any time I see a family member or friend who is displaying willful behavior and I don't act on it. I am part of the problem when I turn a blind eye to someone out of control. We all have some of "Joe" in us, we are all willing at some point in time to push envelop.
There are lessons in this tragic event for all of us.. None of us can get away with bad decisions all the time. Unfortunately when that time catches up with us, it's others that suffer most.
Not one person in all these statements has said, "I did everything I could to stop him" I hope there is something to be learned here because there are other "Joe's" out there.
Dialogue is essential to community. Thank you Bulldog editors and staff for allowing us to speak our minds.
Just read this in Morning Sentinel:
This is a very sad story but hopefully someone learns something from this.
"Breton was convicted of operating under the influence in 1999 and again in 2008. He had four convictions for operating after suspension, two for operating after revocation and his license was revoked indefinitely as a habitual offender, according to Robinson and court records.
Breton was sentenced in 2010 to serve six months in jail and pay a $1,000 fine for operating after revocation, with one prior conviction for the same charge, Robinson said."
Regardless of age, people should be taught to follow rules. There are consequences if rules/laws are not followed. Some are of little effect, others have colossal repercussions. One selfish person broke many rules/laws, others unfortunately, also had to pay for the rule/law breaker's lack of responsibility. Before you do something of question, think about the consequences. You should have learned that as a child.
How about some responsibility for those that knew he was going to drive and
did nothing to stop him ?? --- a 911 phone call --- grab his keys --- there are
effective actions that should slow / prevent this type of happening. The police
cannot do it all !!!!!
Just sayin'.... people can learn lessons without all the "bashing" going on.
just saying also, that 50 something responses, i'd say its pretty much all been said. Why do people have to keep rubbing salt into the wound. The "guilty one".. has paid the altimate price, unfortunetly taking others with him. It is not the "family" of the guilty one here that needs to be punished.
*ultimate
@ pam w ...what about my family, my cousin alissa is right he made a choice, a choice that ended my grammy's life and badly injured my uncle...my 5 and 9 year olds had to find out their great-grandmother was killed because a selfish person, who shouldn't have been on the road in the first place, decided to drive like an idiot. Take that away, trust me I wish this didn't happen, but it did. My family has lost three people in less than six months....and this was totally avoidable. I hope his kids read this so they will learn to be safe on the roads. People forget that a car just like a gun is a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands. And if my family members or the community need to use this forum to help with the grieving process, I say keep it going as long as it is needed. I'm being honest with my kids bout what happened and using it as a tool to teach them to be safe I hope others do the same. I love and miss my grammy. She was a wonderful person. I wish my kids had the chance to meet her but that was stolen from them, something that can never be replaced.
To Pam W...
I read all the above responses. No where did i read that anyone was holding the man's family responsible for his inappropriate actions. It is sad the family has to suffer because a family member broke the law..And the saddest is that an innocent family member of someone else also had to pay the ultimate price for this man's bad decisions..
Sympathy to the family of the deceased lady.. She was doing nothing wrong yet paid the "ultimate price"
I have spent my days since this tragic event thanking the Lord for sparing my father from the actions of this irresposible, reckless driver. A few simple seconds give or take and I could have lost him. Guilty is guilty no matter how good a person the law breaker was.
You know, people can just keep their coments to themselvs. Perhaps he should of not been driving , who are you to judge what he did. Were not all angles just because joe drove without a lisense dont make him a bad guy . There is a reason for all the things we do. Apparently bashing the dead is how a lot of people get their kicks, as i read some of these comments it makes me sick. Remember we all have skeletons in our closet, and do you want people bashing you on dumb things you did, or remember you for the friend or loved one you were. Just sayin people, grow up! I didn't know joe well but i do know a few of his close friends and they arwe good people. So that right there tells me what kind of person he was. I remember when i was young my grandmother said "if you don't have somthing good to say keep it to yourself " .
For those of you who can't take the truth about your friend maybe you are the ones who shouldn't be on here I am Davids wife, my husband was only trying to do the best for his mom when Joe did this to our family David had to see the fear in his mothers eyes then had to watch her die painfully in front of him. He is still lying in this damn hospital bed in pain. I have to watch him relive this over and over because Joe had to to prove he could make it past not one but three cars from what even people he knows have been saying he never learned from his mistakes. there are 5 stages of grief so yeah we are still in the ANGER stage because this was no accident. Joe meant to drive Joe meant to prove he was gonna pass those cars Joe knew he should not do these things but he did anyway, with no regard for the out come of his actions.
Adam, I find it beyond inconceivable that you would quote your GRANDMOTHER to admonish people who are mourning the loss of a grandmother, who was needlessly killed by someone who should not have been behind the wheel. Lucky you that your grandmother was able to pass her wisdom on to you rather than being killed.
Ya know what personally I think all of those who allowed him to drive that day should be held accountable for his actions legally. maybe then people would think twice bout who they hand their keys over to. Me and my friends are all safe drivers but when traveling together the one who has more experience is the one who drives. Safety should be the first thing people should think of before picking up the keys. For days after the accident I wouldn't drive my self anywhere because I knew how upset I was and I don't let myself drive upset, why, cause accidents happen when you don't have 100% of your attention on the road. I always leave a half hour early so I don't have to rush. I never speed. If everyone else drove as safe maybe this would not of happened. Your vehicle is not the only one on the road please remember that the next time you turn on your car or hand over your keys. A car is a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands. It took my grammy's life, don't let it take anymore.
who am I not to judge what he did? my Grammy is dead because of his reckless actions. I have to watch my father suffer in the hospital STILL because of his reckless actions. I am so thankful he got out of this alive. do you think this "bashing" it entertaining to my family? no it is not, not even close. just a month ago my grandpa died, and now this. this did not even need to happen. maybe he was a great guy, but this was not a great thing that he did, so after he did this to my family how can you expect us to be like "oh, well he was a great guy so it's okay that he KILLED my Grammy and nearly my father, & oh it's okay that he broke the law OVER AND OVER again." I tell you what, my father has a license, he obeys the traffic laws, he is suffering right now. and maybe we are not all perfect, but I can say that everyone commenting on here is clearly not in jail, so none of these people ever killed anyone - he did.
Adam,maybe joe was a good guy in your eyes but if someone killed your grandmother or your mother in the same way by driving after he know he shouldn't be how would you feel?I know how i felt after i lost my mom to someone that was driving recklessly and if there was some place i could vent i would have and it wouldn't have been half as nice as most of the post on here. so please just put yourself in there shoes.on both sides there is pain because of joe and on one else.
@ Jen very sorry about your loss I grew up in new vineyard and probly know most of your family or where they live .sorry to hear about the injury to your husband and the loss of Meta. I would like to clear up some things like wheredid you read he "Joe" was trying to prove anything with his driving or that he intentionally hit your husbands truck head on trying to prove a point that is assuming a lot so to keep this nice so it will be shown because as every one know sthere is way to much editing in the first amendment I'll leave it at that just remember there are families on both sides so if you wanna be angry be angry someplace else .......
@ A VET hey, whoever said he was drinking or committing DUI? If you dont know what your talking about shut the bleep up !
This was a tragic thing that happened to both families. I knew none of the people that were in the crash or there families. What I do know and can see is that people have no respect on here and can bad mouth some one in a forum online and hide behind there computer screens. Why don't u sit back and think if the shoes where on the other foot gather some information and then make a decision like a sensible adult. RIP META AND JOE.....Have some respect for the ones that passed. Two wrongs diffently don't make a right thats for sure.
Jesse, the information Jen obviously got was from the eyewitnesses who Joe either passed or who observed him doing so.
Rest in peace Joseph.... you were an amazing man and an even better cousin!
We will miss you until we meet again
and @ Jesse you know nothing about Jen and don't forget she is married to an eye witness in this case. (David is her husband of 21 years ) I know her far better than you do as she is my younger sister by 15 months. I have posted her a link to EVERY artcle about this accident from The BDN, Morning Sentenil, Sun Journal, Press Herald Boston GL:OBE, not to mention WGME, WABI WCSH WMTW she has probally more information abnout this than you do unless your are one of the officers who responded to that 1st 911 call about it. Also shall i menbtion how many nights I have been up on the phone passing text messages back n forth with her?
@Jesse.. my mother did not have to read it anywhere. my father was there! they do not put everything in the paper! (hence the fact that it says my Grammy lived in New Vineyard, she ACTUALLY lived in Farmington only a few houses in on the New Vineyard Road..) usually when people try to pass someone, they are in a way trying to prove they can be first, that they can be faster. I believe that is what my mom was trying to say. she didn't say he intended to his my father, but he DID INTEND to pass THREE vehicles, which also was not mentioned in the article.
you tell them ...Alissa set them straight
Someone needs to be held accountable for handing over their car keys to that person.