Driver of crash that killed 4 MMA students sentenced

ELLSWORTH, Maine — A former Maine Maritime Academy student whose SUV crashed, killing four classmates in December 2022, was sentenced Friday in a Hancock County court.

The judge sentenced Joshua Goncalves-Radding to three years in prison and three years of probation after he pleaded guilty to all 13 charges, including involuntary manslaughter and illegal use of a license.

The judge also suspended Goncalves-Radding's license for 10 years.

Prosecutors say the SUV he was driving was traveling more than 100 miles per hour before flying nearly 60 feet and traveling almost the length of a football field. Goncalves-Radding was under 21 at the time of the accident.

Police say he had alcohol and marijuana in his system.

The victims of the December 2022 crash were Brian Kenealy, 20, of York, Maine; Chase Fossett, 21, of Gardiner, Maine; Luke Simpson, 22, of Rockport, Massachusetts; and Riley Ignacio-Cameron, 20, of Aquinnah, Mass., officials said. Goncalves-Radding and two other students survived the accident.

Goncalves-Radding showed remorse for his actions in court as he addressed the judge, explaining that he understood the consequences of his actions.

“I wish I had died that day, and often I still feel that way,” Goncalves-Radding said. “I have to have a life and I took my friends’ lives.”

Family members of Chase Fosset, who died in the crash, embraced Goncalves-Radding with love.

“I had this overwhelming feeling that I had to live in love and light for Chase. Chase wouldn't want us to hold on to anger,” Fossett said. “It was a tragedy. He loved everyone in that car and no one wanted this to happen.”

The judge said he took into account Goncalves-Radding's age at the time of the incident, the fact that he had a clean criminal record and a clean criminal record, as well as the fact that he was educated, sought advice and took responsibility when deciding his sentence.

Goncalves-Radding reported to the prison immediately after his sentencing.

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