No criminal charges will be filed against Michael Gocksch ’12, the driver in the May 26 crash that killed Marina Keegan ’12.
Gocksch appeared in Orleans District Court at 2 p.m. Thursday for a hearing after Massachusetts State Police sought charges of negligent homicide with a motor vehicle and reckless driving against him. The magistrate judge found no probable cause for the charges, which were dismissed without prejudice within an hour, a court clerk said Thursday afternoon.
Gocksch was driving east along Cape Cod’s Route 6 when he lost control of his 1997 black Lexus, causing the car to drift into a guardrail and roll over at least twice, according to state police.
Keegan’s parents, Tracy and Kevin Keegan, told the News in May that Gocksch had fallen asleep at the wheel and that Keegan was sleeping in the passenger seat, with her chair reclined. Both Gocksch and Keegan were wearing seatbelts at the time, and police said speed did not appear to be a factor in the crash.
Keegan’s parents have supported Gocksch since police announced they would seek charges against him two weeks ago, and were by his side in court on Thursday, NBC affiliate WHDH reported.
Gocksch’s attorney said the Keegans sent letters and made phone calls to state police asking them not to pursue charges, WHDH reported.
“The thing about it, there was no speeding, no recklessness involved, no negligence,” Tracy Keegan told WHDH. “He certainly wishes it was him and not her who suffered the fatality.”
Following the crash, Keegan was declared dead at the scene and Gocksch was taken to Cape Cod Hospital, where he was released later that day.