'Distracted' driver gets 5 years for Kittery crash that killed couple on Maine Turnpike

David Herring, 42, has been sentenced to serve 5 years in prison for his conviction on two counts of manslaughter in a 2021 Maine Turmpike crash in Kittery that killed a married couple.

Herring was driving a tractor-trailer. Geoffrey and Elizabeth Gattis of Falmouth, who were traveling in a Lexus, both died at age 68 as a result of the accident. The couple's vehicle was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer and crashed into a second tractor-trailer in front of them on Jan. 12, 2021, Maine State Police said at the time.

York County District Attorney Kathryn Slattery said Herring was distracted, didn't react to warning signs about traffic delays and was traveling 57 mph when he hit the Lexus, which was traveling at 3 mph.

Herring was sentenced Sept. 13, according to Slattery. Justice Richard Mulhern imposed concurrent sentences of 10 years with all but five years suspended followed by four years of probation for each count of manslaughter.

"We are very sorry for the loss the Gattis family suffered," Slattery said in a prepared statement. "Distracted driving is a serious problem in Maine and in this case resulted in a tragedy that could have been avoided. We hope this sentence will raise awareness of the importance of paying attention to your surroundings and not to be distracted by phones or other devices while driving."

Slattery thanked Maine State Police, the Maine Computer Crimes Unit and the Kittery Police Department for its "thorough investigations."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 'Distracted' driver gets 5 years for Kittery crash that killed couple on Maine Turnpike