AUBURN — A local liquor consultant entered a plea of “not guilty” Thursday to a felony operating under the influence charge that followed a June crash that sent a motorcyclist to the hospital.
According to the police report, Scott M. Coulombe was given an alcohol breath test after the crash. That test showed a blood alcohol content of .25 percent, which is more than three times the legal limit.
“Obviously, the state is concerned here,” Assistant District Attorney Andrew Matulis said. “This is aggravated OUI.”
According to Sun Journal archives, Coulombe is a former plant manager at White Rock Distilleries. His LinkedIn account lists his current employment as a consultant for the wine and spirits industry.
Coulombe was convicted for operating under the influence in 1995 and drinking in public in 1996, Matulis said.
In 2004, Coulombe was convicted of driving to endanger. He has a number of other motor vehicle violations, including failure to stop for a red light in 2008 and speeding 79 mph in a 65 mph zone in December 2013.
According to the accident report, Coulombe, 40, was driving his 2008 Jeep south on Hotel Road at 9:23 p.m. on June 19. He was making a left turn onto Martindale Road and failed to yield the right of way to David M. Swift, 45, also of Auburn, who was driving his motorcycle north on Hotel Road. Unable to avoid the collision, Swift struck the rear passenger corner of Coulombe’s vehicle.
Swift was thrown from the motorcycle and across a set of railroad tracks. He and his 2014 Harley-Davidson landed on the other side of the road.
Justice William Stokes lowered Coulombe’s bail from $2,500 to $1,500.
dhartill@sunjournal.com
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