City man indicted on manslaughter charges in fatal 2016 crash on Spaulding

Lawrence Douglas (Rochester Police photo from 2012)

DOVER - A Rochester man who was behind the wheel of a car that crashed and rolled over on the Spaulding Turnpike almost a year ago has been indicted in the death of his passenger who died at the scene.

Lawrence Douglas, 37, of 32 Lafayette Road, faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted on three felony counts, including manslaughter, negligent homicide and aggravated DWI.

The most serious charge of manslaughter carries a 30-year maximum sentence.

The accident occurred on April 15, a Friday, around 8:35 p.m. in the area of Exit 15 in Rochester when Douglas' Subaru Forester was traveling southbound. Police said it lost control and struck the center concrete barrier before exiting off the right side of the roadway and rolling several times down an embankment.

James M. Gosselin, 54, of Rochester, was found dead inside the vehicle, while Douglas, who was ejected, was Medflighted to Maine Medical Center in Portland where he spent several days in critical condition before improving.

Initially safety officials cited only speed as a possible contributing factor in the crash, but court documents say Douglas "did commit the crime of manslaughter when he recklessly caused the death of another, James Gosselin, by driving at excessive speeds while impaired by alcohol and/or combined with controlled substance or substances resulting in his losing control of his motor vehicle and crashing."

Gosselin, who had lived next door to Douglas on Lafayette Street, left behind four children, according to his obituary posted by the Jackman Funeral Home of Whitinsville, Mass.

The March grand jury indictments were handed down March 17 and released last week.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt, only that enough evidence has been gathered to warrant a trial.