Truck driver says he fainted before he hit cyclists
David Labonte says a severe coughing attack led to the Biddeford crash, which left a Saco man and his son critically injured.

By Dennis Hoey dhoey@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

Police Monday said that a 15-month-old toddler remains in critical condition from a crash in which a pickup truck hit a family bicycling in Biddeford on Friday evening.

The 15-month-old, identified by police as Lavarice Elliott, was in critical condition as of 10 p.m. Sunday, police said in a statement Monday morning.

His father, Jamerico Elliott, 51, of Saco, also remains in critical condition. The baby’s mother, Melodie Brennan, 30, was treated for injuries and released from the hospital.

Police say the investigation into the cause of the crash will not be completed any time soon. The accident reconstruction process takes time, blood alcohol tests won’t be complete until at least the end of the week and police will be seeking a search warrant to obtain the “black box” from the vehicle which records the speed and other factors immediately before the crash, police said.

The driver of the pickup truck that struck the three bicyclists said in a telephone interview that he fainted just before he hit the riders.

"It's awful. It's a terrible feeling I have. It makes me sick to my stomach," David Labonte, 56, of Kennebunkport said Sunday night.

A man who witnessed part of the crash claims that Labonte must have been driving at least 55 mph to have caused the extent of damage that his truck inflicted on the bicyclists and a parked pickup truck.

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Kennebunk man who drove into Saco cyclists had previous OUIs
By David Hench dhench@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

The pickup truck driver who hit a family as they bicycled in Biddeford was twice convicted of driving drunk and has also had several speeding convictions.