REBEKAH KIERSTEAD WAS UNDERAGE AT THE TIME...WHO SERVED HER?
'Rest of my life': Taunton woman apologizes for fatal OUI crash. What happened in court?
Rebekah Kierstead, 25, of Taunton pled guilty Friday in Fall River Superior Court to OUI vehicular homicide in the 2022 death of 28-year-old Matthew Higgins of Middleboro.
The crash occurred shortly after 2:15 a.m. following a night of drinking at Profile Rock in Freetown, according to prosecutors.
Kierstead was sentenced to serve two years in the Dartmouth House of Correction after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide as result of negligence while under the influence of alcohol.
She also pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated resulting in serious injury. The judge imposed a sentence of seven years probation on that charge instead of jail time.
A blood test in the hospital showed that Kierstead’s blood alcohol content at the time of the crash was .17, more than twice the legal limit of .08.
What happened on night of crash?
Video evidence, which wasn’t played in court, showed that she was speeding when she hit the light pole the night of Dec. 7, 2022, according to prosecutors, who said that road conditions that night were wet and slick.
Higgins was one of four passengers in the pickup truck. The other three passengers, as well as Kierstead, were all seriously injured.
Two passengers had to be transported from the scene by medical rescue helicopters.
Victim impact statements
Higgins' mother, sister and brother-in-law all read victim impact statements to the judge in court on Friday, May 23.
They described Matthew Higgins as a fun-loving, warmhearted man who adored his nieces and nephews and was looking forward to raising his own family.
Defendant reads written apology
Kierstead then read a written apology admitting her guilt and expressing her profound remorse which she said would follow her for “the rest of my life.”
After sentencing, at least two of Kierstead’s family members tearfully hugged the mother of Higgins in the courtroom.
Lead prosecutor Patrick Driscoll said an OUI vehicular homicide is typically “the toughest kind of case” due to “negligence with unintended consequences.”
In addition to her prison term and probation, Kierstead’s driver’s license, as per state law, will be suspended for 15 years.
