Maine

Farm pleads guilty to lesser count in deadly hayride crash

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2014 file photo, a sign attached to a pole points in the direction of the Gauntlet Haunted Night Ride at Harvest Hill Farms in Mechanic Falls, Maine. The farm charged in a Halloween-themed hayride crash that killed a teenage girl has reached a plea agreement that's expected to bring the criminal case against it to an end. It will plead guilty Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, to a charge of driving to endanger in exchange for dismissal of a more serious manslaughter charge, farm attorney Michael Whipple said Monday. (AP Photo/Patrick Whittle, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2014 file photo, a sign attached to a pole points in the direction of the Gauntlet Haunted Night Ride at Harvest Hill Farms in Mechanic Falls, Maine. The farm charged in a Halloween-themed hayride crash that killed a teenage girl has reached a plea agreement that's expected to bring the criminal case against it to an end. It will plead guilty Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, to a charge of driving to endanger in exchange for dismissal of a more serious manslaughter charge, farm attorney Michael Whipple said Monday. (AP Photo/Patrick Whittle, File) (The Associated Press)

A Maine farm has pleaded guilty for its role in a holiday hayride crash two years ago that killed a teenager and injured more than 20 people.

Harvest Hill Farms pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of driving to endanger in exchange for dismissal of a more serious manslaughter charge. Under the plea agreement, most of a $7,500 fine will go to charity, along with restitution to be sorted out later.

The October 2014 crash in Mechanic Falls claimed the life of 17-year-old Cassidy Charette. Her parents' attorney said the company "chose profit ahead of safety."

Prosecutors said farm workers knew the Jeep that was hauling the hay wagon had bad brakes. The driver was acquitted and charges against a mechanic were dropped.