82-Year-Old Sentenced in Deadly Yarmouth Crash that Killed Two
The man responsible for claiming the lives of John Hughan, 14, of Norwell and Cornelius Allen Bottomley, Jr., 54, of Hanover has been sentenced.
Peter Richmond pleaded guilty to two counts of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation on Monday, July 21, at Barnstable District Court. He was sentenced to 12 months in the local jail suspended for three years and three years of concurrent probation.
Hughan and Bottomley were killed in the August 2024 crash. At the time of the crash Hughan was helping Bottomley fix a boat trailer that had become disabled due to a broken axle on the side of North Main Street in Yarmouth, when a 2020 Cadillac Escalade driven by Peter Richmond, now 82, of Yarmouth Port, hit the vehicle from behind.
Richmond’s attorney said his client was under a doctor's care and taking medicine for Alzheimer's, describing it as a mild to moderate cognitive impairment.
Assistant District Attorney Shaunna Souve shared in court that from a summary of police reports and the accident reconstruction report, Richmond appeared confused after the crash. He also did not apply the brakes before or after the crash, or try to steer away from the stopped vehicle, according to the vehicle data.
Richmond will be subject to home confinement with a GPS to ensure compliance for the first nine months of probation. He will be able to leave his home for exceptions including religious obligations and medical appointments. Additionally, Richmond will also need to undertake a mental health evaluation within 60 days and will automatically lose his license for 15 years. He is also prohibited from having contact with the families.
The Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office provided this statement, “No sentence can ever make up for the loss suffered by family, friends, and community members. DA Galibois extends his deepest condolences to them as they continue to grieve.”
Massachusetts has limited restrictions on elderly driving and is a self-reporting state. If drivers have a medical condition, or are undergoing treatment that would impair their driving, they must report it to the state.
The MA RMV website states, “Many older drivers are able to self-determine if they should drive based on their mental and physical abilities.” It also links to this resource about how to have conversations about driving safely while aging.
Allison Hughan, John’s mother, said in a statement, “We were disappointed with the sentence that Peter Richmond received. We hope that legislators will work to implement laws that protect both elderly drivers and the greater community. Until there is change, we urge all families to have those difficult conversations with a loved one who should no longer be driving. It is important to take a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia seriously, realizing that even a short drive during the day could be jeopardizing both the individual’s safety and the safety of others.”
For more South Shore news, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.