Sagadahoc County Courts

Hope woman charged in Woolwich manslaughter case seeks to have blood sample excluded

Ward to stand trial for accident deaths
Sat, 12/22/2018 - 7:45pm

Lawyers for Danielle Ward, 35, of Hope are seeking to have blood samples taken after a 2017 accident in Woolwich excluded from her trial for vehicular manslaughter. According to court records, tests of the samples showed Ward had “dangerous” levels of opioids and sedatives in her bloodstream when the sample was taken.

The defense questioned how the sample was handled and asked that it be excluded. Justice Daniel Billings took the motion under advisement during a hearing Dec. 18, according to Deputy District Attorney Jeff Baroody. Ward was indicted last June for two counts of Manslaughter, three counts of Aggravated Criminal Operating Under the Influence, two counts of Driving to Endanger, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

The crash killed Robert Martin, 70, of Woolwich, and his wife, Carolyn Martin, 76. Ward was driving with seven children in her vehicle on Route 1 on Jan. 21, 2017, when she allegedly veered into the southbound lane and collided with Martin’s vehicle. A few seconds later, another vehicle hit Ward’s car, causing injuries to her and two of the children in the car, Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry said at the time. The accident occurred near the Taste of Maine Restaurant.

The trial is expected in March.