Rochester man faces manslaughter charge in crash that killed Ossipee woman

Scene of May 18 crash that left an Ossipee woman dead; inset Robert Gifford, who is accused in her death (Courtesy photos)

OSSIPEE - A Rochester man charged with aggravated DWI in the death of an elderly Ossipee woman could be facing up to 15 years in state prison when toxicology tests come back from the state.
Deputy Carroll County Attorney Kimberly Tessari told The Rochester Voice on Thursday that if tests come back from the state that show he was under the influence the charges would likely be elevated to negligent homicide, which can carry a seven-and-a-half to 15-year prison sentence.

Dorothy Marshall (Courtesy)

The crash occurred on May 18 when Robert Gifford, 54, of Rochester, was operating a 2005 Mack Dump truck northbound on Route 28 when he lost control of the vehicle causing it to roll over and crash into an SUV driven by Dorothy Marshall, 80, who was headed south.
Marshall was pronounced deceased as a result of the crash, while Gifford was uninjured.
Once the tests come back, the County Attorney's Office will determine which charge or charges will be forwarded to a grand jury for possible indictment, Tessari said.

According to her obituary, Marshall was a former 15-year business owner in Freedom who recently retired to Ossipee where she enjoyed gardening.