Massachusetts Motorist Pleads Guilty in ‘Huffing’ Crash

June 14, 2012

A Dracut woman police said was deliberately inhaling compressed air while driving has pleaded guilty in a car crash that seriously injured three pedestrians.

Prosecutors said 18-year-old Catherine Gaudette pleaded guilty Tuesday in Lowell District Court to charges including aggravated assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and impeded operation. She was sentenced to two years in prison, along with two more years on an unrelated drug charge. She will serve three years’ probation afterward and lose her driver’s license for five years.

Police said Gaudette lost consciousness behind the wheel last October while “huffing” a can of computer keyboard cleaner to get a cheap high. They said she struck a woman crossing a Lowell street, then traveled another 50 feet and hit two more people.

 

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Latest Comments

  • June 21, 2012 at 3:57 pm
    Kurt says:
    Wait, inhaling air while driving is illegal? Wait, you mean I can get high by inhaling air?
  • June 21, 2012 at 2:14 pm
    hmmmmmmm says:
    What is too bad (as well) is the probation is only 3 years after the jail term --- that should be longer to keep track of this person.
  • June 14, 2012 at 1:52 pm
    Sally Anne Fannymaker says:
    The world is lousy with morons.
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