Tyler Troy files intent to plead guilty in fatal 2022 Thanksgiving crash

PORTSMOUTH — Tyler Troy has filed his intent to plead guilty to negligent homicide and seven other felonies in connection to the deadly 2022 Thanksgiving crash that killed 21-year-old Barrington resident Drew Ceppetelli and injured four other passengers.

Troy, a Northwood resident, is now headed to criminal mediation starting July 15, his 24th birthday, as the defense and prosecution attempt to reach an agreement in the case. His trial, which had been scheduled to begin June 22, has been canceled.

Troy is facing eight felony charges in connection to the Nov. 24, 2022 crash at the Portsmouth traffic circle that took the life of Ceppetelli, a student-athlete who attended Salve Regina University in Rhode Island. She graduated from Coe-Brown Northwood Academy before going on to play softball at Salve Regina.

Troy filed his notice of intent to plead guilty June 13.

Attorney says Tyler Troy wants to avoid 'trauma' of trial

Mark Sisti, Troy’s defense attorney, said his client wants to avoid the trauma all involved parties could experience at a jury trial.

“There’s no question he’d like to resolve this matter without a trial … He’s much looking forward to a resolution short of trial, if that can be accomplished,” Sisti said Monday. “Tyler is a really nice guy. ... He’s kind. He is absolutely shaken by what took place that night.”

Rockingham County Superior Court Judge Steven Houran will preside over the criminal mediation, which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Brentwood court.

County prosecutor Roger Chadwick Jr., who is representing the state in the case against Troy, could not be immediately reached for comment.

What happened night of fatal crash

Charging documents allege Troy drove a Porsche Macan while under the influence of alcohol more than 30 mph in excess of the posted speed limit of 35 mph, causing others in the car to be injured in the crash.

All six passengers in the single-vehicle crash were hospitalized after being ejected from the car, which skidded across the roadway and flipped over several times onto the traffic circle’s grass median, New Hampshire State Police previously reported. Ceppetelli succumbed to her injuries at Portsmouth Regional Hospital a few hours after the crash.

Last July, a Rockingham County Superior Court grand jury indicted Troy on the eight charges: negligent homicide while under the influence, negligent homicide, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated and two counts of reckless conduct. Each charge against Troy is a Class B felony except the negligent homicide charge alleging he was driving under the influence, which is a Class A felony.

“It was tragic,” Sisti said of the incident. “All young people, all affected. It was a tragic loss of life. It’s a moment that's going to last forever.”

The group of young people in the car at the time of the deadly incident had all been out at multiple downtown Portsmouth bars beginning the evening before Thanksgiving, according to court documents. The accident occurred after 1 a.m., state police said.

New Hampshire Liquor Commission investigator Brian Hebert testified last year Troy had been to six different establishments in the hours leading up to the crash, including Legends Billiards & Tavern, Tj’s Food and Spirits, the Goat Bar and Grill, Thirsty Moose Taphouse, the Press Room and the Portsmouth Gas Light Co. Hebert testified Troy’s blood alcohol concentration at the time of the deadly incident was .224, about three times the legal limit.

The Liquor Commission hearing last fall was held as it prosecuted the Gas Light for serving the allegedly “visibly intoxicated” Troy leading up to the crash. Troy was not a party in the proceedings, which resulted in the Gas Light being fined $500.

Investigators with the Liquor Commission attempted to have the aggravated maximum penalty imposed against the Gas Light, a liquor license suspension of 10 consecutive days and a maximum $2,500 fine.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Tyler Troy files intent to plead guilty in fatal Thanksgiving crash