NEWBURYPORT — A West Newbury man found guilty of two counts of vehicular homicide in connection with a June 2009 collision with a motorcycle was sentenced to 21/2 years in prison yesterday, the maximum penalty allowed by law.
Last week, a Newburyport District Court jury found Alan T. Pearsall, 43, of 563 Main St., guilty of two counts of vehicular homicide by negligent driving after a three-day trial before Judge Alan Swan. He was also found responsible for a marked lanes violation and failure to drive in the right lane.
The charges stem from a June 25, 2009, crash on Bachelor Street in West Newbury that killed a Haverhill couple on a motorcycle.
Pearsall, a successful local artist and muralist, was sentenced to 21/2 years in prison, two years to be served, with the balance suspended five years, on the first count of vehicular homicide of Earl Morris. Upon release from custody, he will be under home confinement for 18 months, according to Essex County District Attorney spokesman Steve O'Connell.
On the second count of vehicular homicide of Maryella Morris, Pearsall was sentenced to five years' probation. He was also sentenced to a 15-year loss of license for each count — whether the losses are concurrent or consecutive remains to be determined by the registry, O'Connell said.
Pearsall received the maximum punishment for the first count of vehicular homicide, which carries jail time of not less than 30 days, but not more than 21/2 years, or a fine of not less than $300 or more than $3,000, or both.
O'Connell did not know if fines were involved as of yesterday evening. Pearsall also received the maximum possible 15-year revocation of license.
Just before 6 p.m. on June 25, Pearsall was driving his gray Toyota Rav4 in the northbound lane of Bachelor Street when he went into the southbound lane to drive around a bicyclist riding along the shoulder of the road and struck a 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, according to court documents.
The motorcycle operator, Earl Morris, 63, 659 Primrose St., Haverhill, was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, Maryella Morris, 63, who was riding on the back, was MedFlighted to Boston, where she later died.
O'Connell said Pearsall was charged with vehicular homicide due to negligent driving because he had driven into the opposite lane to pass a bicycle that was heading the same way as he was. He hit the motorcycle coming in the opposite direction around a blind curve, O'Connell said.
Pearsall had told police he did not see the motorcycle until it was a foot in front of him.
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