The last Facebook post of a young woman struck and killed by an intoxicated man warned of the dangers of drunk driving.
Taylor Gaboury, 21, of Farmington, ME died on New Year’s Day at about 1:40 am when she was struck and killed by a car in the vicinity of Franklin Memorial Hospital.
On the previous day, she shared a link with this reminder “Happy New Year’s Eve: Remember it takes 23,647 bolts to put a car together, but only one nut to spread them all over the highway. Don’t drink and drive!”
Gaboury was walking along Route 2 on her way to her parents’ house after a party at the time of the accident; her parents say that they don’t know why she didn’t call someone instead of walking. It is also unclear why she didn’t have her phone or ID with her at the time that she was struck. Police were initially unable to identify her without identification. Her parents identified her remains tentatively on January 1st after filing a missing person’s report. An autopsy confirmed her identity.
Friends, family, remember accident victims kindness
Friends and family have come forward after Gaboury’s death with memories of her kindness and consideration. Gaboury’s mother Teena Trask said she was unaware of the extent of her daughter’s positive influence. “Being her parents,” said Trask, “ we obviously knew and thought she was an amazing person with a great soul, but people are coming forward and telling us these stories that we never knew about.”
Classmates said that she went out of her way to make people feel accepted. She donated time and goods toward charity and was active in the Franklin County group Buttons for Babes.
Gaboury was also adventurous,enjoying outdoor activities like camping, kayaking, four-wheeling, and cliff-jumping. Her father, Ricky Gaboury, described her as an “adrenaline junkie.”
Her parents hope that something positive can come out of her tragic death, which her mother described as “100 percent preventable.” “I’m really just hoping that through this people will just start to think before they get behind the wheel or go off walking,” said Trask. “Call me. I’ll give them my number. I’ll go get anybody.”
Rights for DUI victims
The driver who struck Gaboury was Tommy Clark, 25, of Industry. He told police that he knew he hit someone and went down to find Gaboury’s body. After trying to “wake her up” he realized she was dead and fled in his car. Clark has been charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident.
It is still too early to know if Gaboury’s parents will file civil charges in addition to the criminal charges that Clark is facing. Accident victims and their families have the option of pursuing legal action in search of compensation from those whose negligence and recklessness have cost the health and life and innocent people.
If you or a family member have been harmed by drunk driver, please contact the Maine accident attorneys at Hardy, Wolf & Downing. Call 1-800-INJURED at your convenience to set up a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.