Family mourning 3 deaths wants answers. Driver reportedly said 'I'm going to die tonight'

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Gavin Sorge Sr. and his wife Gina have hired a lawyer and are demanding answers from police about why their family lost three loved ones in a fatal crash last year.

Sorge Sr. and his family believe if Dover police had responded differently to the clearly dangerous driving of Kyle McGowan, their loved ones would still be alive today.

On Sept. 4, 2022, Peter Ronchi, 58, Gavin Sorge Jr., 22, and Sean Kamszik, 23, were traveling in a Dodge Caravan on Route 4 in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, when a Subaru Forester driven by Kyle McGowan, 33, of Kennebunk, crossed the center line, leading to a head-on collision, according to police. All three people in the Dodge and McGowan died in the fiery crash.

Gavin Sorge Jr. was the couple's son. He and Kamszik were the love of each others' lives, according to family members. Ronchi was Gina's stepfather.

"This is so hard for Gina and I, for Peter's wife Sheila," said Sorge Sr. "We are so up and down. Her mom has dementia, and we can't ever get away from this. We have no chance to recover. I want the whole story."

Sorge Sr. and his wife, Gina, remain in their South Berwick home with Sheila, Ronchi's widow and Gina's mother, caring for her. Gavin Sorge Jr. was mourned as a beloved member of the arts community in Portsmouth venues and the Seacoast. Peter Ronchi had worked for the city of Portsmouth's water department for more than 30 years.

McGowan was reported to police for assaulting people at locations in Somersworth and Dover immediately before the fatal crash.

The Sorge family and their attorney have cast blame on Dover police for the fatal crash. Though a lawsuit has not been filed, they stated their belief if Dover police had pursued McGowan from Dover into Rollinsford, the tragedy could have been averted. Dover Police Chief William Breault has stated officers took appropriate actions that night.

New details on McGowan's alleged violent actions in the hour or so before the fatal crash have emerged, as have details about his actions in the weeks leading up to it. Ryan Anderson, the Dover officer who pulled into a bank parking lot rather than pursue McGowan into Rollinsford, described his actions. Police interviews with family and people who knew McGowan paint a picture of a man with substance problems who had goals for the future.

McGowan's blood-alcohol was nearly twice legal limit

Rollinsford police Lt. William Hancock, interviewed for this story, said a toxicology report shows McGowan had a blood alcohol level of .149 the night of the crash (.08 is the legal limit), and cannabinoids were present as well.

"On the night of the crash, Dover PD did notify us that his vehicle was last seen headed into Rollinsford on Portland Avenue," Hancock said. "Due to the quick sequence of events, that information was in the process of being disseminated to our on-duty officer as 911 calls for the crash were coming into dispatch."

Hancock said the crash reconstruction report indicates McGowan’s Subaru had crossed completely into the opposite lane of travel at approximately 100 mph immediately before the collision.

Hancock had previously confirmed the crash, which occurred about 8:30 p.m., was preceded by McGowan's involvement in a minor accident on the roadway.

"He did sideswipe another car on Route 4," Hancock said previously. "The other vehicle was traveling in the opposite direction. He did minor damage to the side mirror and there was some paint damage."

Hancock said no firearms were found in the Subaru driven by McGowan, but there were "ammo magazines" in the vehicle. He said a semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun was found on the ground near the car and it was confirmed McGowan was the owner.

Witnesses describe McGowan's assaults and gun-wielding rampage before fatal crash

Police in Somersworth, Dover and Rollinsford last year provided information about allegations McGowan assaulted multiple people at the American Legion Post 69 in Somersworth and the Triangle Club substance recovery center in Dover shortly before the fatal crash.

New details about these incidents were revealed in documents Foster's Daily Democrat recently requested and received from Somersworth police, Rollinsford police and the city of Dover.

Somersworth police were the first to receive a call about McGowan. It came from a caller at the American Legion Post 69, which is located at 45 Washington St., a little after 8 p.m.

Somersworth Police Chief Tim McLin said officers were called to the American Legion for a report of an unwanted person, later confirmed to be McGowan.

According to the incident report, provided by Somersworth police last week, police responded to the American Legion, where a caller had reported to police McGowan assaulted a 70-year-old woman and was being loud and belligerent. McGowan shoved the woman when she tried to walk away, witnesses told police, and EMS was called for a leg injury to the woman, according to the report. Witnesses told police McGowan threw things, including bar stools. Another witness, who got up to help the woman, was punched twice in the face by McGowan, according to the report.

McGowan allegedly was shouting about being Irish and how the Irish built the world. He left the American Legion just before police arrived, according to the report.

Somersworth police were later notified Dover police had issued a be-on-the-lookout alert for McGowan in connection with the incident at the Triangle Club in Dover, which is about four miles away from the American Legion.

Dover Police Chief William Breault, who spoke to Foster's last September, said Dover police responded at 8:25 p.m. to the Triangle Club at 120 Broadway in Dover for a report of a disturbance.

"It was reported that a subject, subsequently identified as Kyle McGowan, had driven into the rear lot, assaulted two people and brandished a long-barreled firearm," Breault said last year. "As the officers were approaching, updated information was relayed to the officers that the subject returned to his car and exited the parking lot."

Witness statements obtained recently indicate McGowan drove into the Triangle Club parking lot at a high rate of speed. There were several people outside who had attended a meeting at the local recovery center.

When one woman approached McGowan's car, telling him he needed to slow down, McGowan told her, "I'm going to jail," to which she replied, "hopefully not tonight," according to the incident report.

The woman was pushed and struck by McGowan, as was her boyfriend when he tried to intervene, according to the report. The woman told police McGowan was clearly intoxicated.

Witnesses told police McGowan got out of his car and was slapping his chest, yelling "white power" and showing Nazi salutes. He then went to his car and grabbed an AR-style rifle, according to the report. Witnesses said he brandished the weapon but did not point it at anyone.

Another witness said he heard McGowan say he had "knocked three people out" at the American Legion, and that "I'm going to die tonight so it doesn't matter."

McGowan left the Triangle Club, driving at a high rate of speed, before officers arrived, witnesses told Dover police.

Breault said a Dover officer saw a vehicle travel north on Broadway, through the Oak Street intersection, make an abrupt U-turn and turn east (outbound) on Oak Street.

Police reports indicate they started following McGowan after observing his car pass at least two cars on the left, crossing over the yellow line into two wrong-way lanes of traffic.

Dover police reports indicate they discontinued following McGowan, or displaying lights, pulling over at Citizens Bank at 405 Portland St. and calling a supervisor, who advised them to discontinue and to return to the Trangle Club to continue the investigation there.

Breault said the timing of the officer activating his blue emergency lights and the suspect vehicle turning onto Route 4 was simultaneous.

"The officer did not follow the vehicle into Rollinsford," Breault said in September. "A review of the police vehicle camera footage has confirmed that the officer’s vehicle was a significant distance behind McGowan’s vehicle. The footage also confirmed that the officer followed departmental policy and at no time pursued the vehicle."

The chief said a BOLO (be-on-the-lookout alert) was issued to the Rollinsford and South Berwick Police Departments stating McGowan's vehicle was last seen traveling on Route 4 in Rollinsford.

Sorge family and attorney place blame on Dover officer

"I am so disappointed with what is happening in Dover," Sorge Sr. said. "At the time, they told us they were not chasing him. But when they got behind him on Oak Street, that was when they decided to not follow him with lights on, to not let people know this man was coming, a man who was almost two times over the legal limit."

The Sorge family has hired a lawyer, and Sorge Sr. said they will pursue whatever steps are necessary to see their questions are answered.

Sorge Sr.'s attorney, Alfred Catalfo III, sent a letter March 3 to Dover city officials, alleging the actions of Dover police officer Ryan Anderson and others he was in communication with led to the crash.

"By the time he reached his final destination in Rollinsford, Kyle McGowan was an out-of-control missile, heading for the Sorge family's loved ones," Catalfo wrote in the letter.

"Pete was our safe driver," Sorge Sr. said. "It was early Sunday evening, and they were going to McDonald's. In that split-second shift, if that cop had followed the driver, I am convinced they would still be alive today. If they (police) kept their lights on, Pete would have seen them a mile away. For that cop to just pull into Citizens Bank and not look back .... He would have seen that fiery inferno if he (looked back)."

Catalfo received a first response to the March 3 letter on June 23. It was sent on behalf of Dover from the New Hampshire Public Risk Management Exchange (PRIMEX), a municipal pooled trust organization. The letter, from Michelle Champagne-Field, a claims consultant, acknowledged receipt of Catalfo's letter and indicated PRIMEX would respond to it soon.

"My next steps will be to meet with and talk with the lawyers," Catalfo said. "I am still working to prepare a civil lawsuit, but I like to make sure to meet with everyone involved before taking that step."

Catalfo said Dover has been "stonewalling" the Sorge family in its pursuit of certain records, such as a mobile data system records.

Catalfo, in his letter, claimed officer Anderson "clearly knew that the lives of the public were in immediate, extreme and grave danger, yet, after only very briefly activating his emergency lights, he simply shut them off and pulled over. Had he continued pursuit and activated his siren, McGowan would have been required to pull over and may have very well done so. ... Officer Anderson's failure to act to protect the lives of the public by even warning them was reckless to an extreme."

Catalfo went on to say Anderson not pursuing McGowan into Rollinsford was a "violation of standard operating procedures."

Anderson's detailed description of his actions, in a Dover police report, matches what Breault described.

Anderson stated: "While traveling on Oak Street, I noticed the same vehicle cross the double yellow line, in the area of Salmon Falls Stoneware, and pass a vehicle on the left. At this point, I was traveling over the tight bridge Oak Street, due to a vehicle directly in front of me, and the size of the road, I did not activate my emergency lights yet. In the area of 150 Oak Street, I activated my emergency lights. I noticed the vehicle pass another vehicle on the left, crossing the double yellow line, just before the intersection of Portland and Oak. The vehicle then approached the intersection of Portland and Oak, and made a left tum onto Portland Avenue at a high rate of speed, traveling north. I then continued through the intersection of Portland and Oak at which point I pulled over in front of Citizens Bank, 405 Portland Avenue, and terminated the attempt to stop and shut my emergency lights off."

Breault declined to comment on Catalfo's claims, noting the potential litigation.

McGowan's parents, roommate, employer share details about him

Hancock, the Rollinsford police lieutenant, conducted an investigation following the crash, including a visit to McGowan's residence in Kennebunk, Maine.

According to his report, he found the living area to be orderly and located a large quantity of ammunition, an empty pistol case, a Triangle Club pamphlet, psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana seeds.

McGowan had an assigned garage bay on the property that Hancock found to be in disarray. He reported a table was flipped over, a cabinet ripped off the wall, and a tequila bottle was smashed on the floor. There was allegedly blood on the bottle and other belongings. He found more ammunition in the garage.

One of McGowan’s roommates told Hancock they had no information to provide a motive for his conduct. The roommate said McGowan occasionally consumed alcohol and smoked marijuana, but they did not know about any violent tendencies.

The roommate said McGowan had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from an incident unknown to the roommate. The roommate also said McGowan had plans for the future, including starting his own food truck, and was in the process of obtaining a permit.

Hancock also interviewed McGowan’s parents, who live in Vermont. They said they missed a phone call from McGowan on the night of the crash, and the voicemail audio was “garbled,” seemingly due to a poor connection.

One week prior to the crash, McGowan sent his parents a text message with a picture of a shotgun and commented he was “protected from all the craziness going on in the world.”

McGowan's father told Hancock his son previously had a pain medication addiction and attended a rehabilitation facility in New Jersey “many years ago.” The father felt his son was using PTSD as a “crutch” and an “excuse for his drug problem.”

McGowan's parents told Hancock they had sent a recent letter to McGowan, indicating they would no longer help him financially, because they worried he was using the money on drugs.

McGowan’s employer described him as “very troubled” and told Hancock he had anger issues. He added he was aware McGowan had problems with alcohol and marijuana.

His employer said McGowan was sent home from work on multiple occasions because of his anger, which was "not directed at anyone in particular, but it appeared that McGowan had no support system, such as friends." He was under the impression McGowan was attending multiple substance abuse support classes per day at the Triangle Club. He said McGowan spoke about the classes and opening his own food truck business.

"McGowan apparently lied to his employer about the substance abuse classes, as many Triangle Club members indicated that McGowan only attended one meeting, during which he was asked to leave for disruptive behavior," Hancock stated in his report. "Why McGowan engaged in his illegal conduct in Dover and reckless driving in Rollinsford will likely never be known. The physical evidence and past conduct descriptions suggest that he was suffering from a serious and untreated substance abuse problem."

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Gavin Sorge Sr., mourning family seeks answers on Rt. 4 fatal crash