BY CHRIS QUARTARONE
The 20-year-old Derry woman charged in the death of a Bedford man was sentenced to two to 15 years in New Hampshire State Prison.
The accident happened Sept. 23, 2006, at 6:20 a.m., when Este, then 20, was traveling eastbound on Route 101 in Bedford. She crossed the double yellow line into the westbound lane hitting Henry Magee head on. Estes was driving home from a party at Keene State College. At 8 a.m. the same morning, Estes had a .08 blood-alcohol level, the lowest level to be considered intoxicated.
The Nov. 30 sentencing ends a family ordeal of attending hearings, at which Henry’s son James, 53, of Derry, said Elise never displayed any remorse for the fatal DWI offense.
“I’m hoping someday she gets it,” he said.
Magee said his father was a selfless individual. “He was always helping others in the neighborhood and lived life to the fullest,” he said.
Magee said Henry was returning from an aborted fishing trip at Lake Winnipesaukee when the accident happened.
Henry had served as president and as an active member of the Bedford Lions Club, said James Magee.
Henry and his wife, Jean, were getting ready to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary on Dec. 16, 2006.
“He always wanted to do something everyday no matter how bad the weather may have been,” said Jean Magee. “He loved life.”
Jean Magee said she hopes the sentencing will help Elise make something of her life, but knows it won’t change what happened. “If they gave her two years or 20 years it won’t bring Henry back,” she said.
According to court documents Estes, of 2 Miltimore Road, Derry, negotiated a guilty plea to negligent homicide on Sept. 9.
Estes will not be allowed to apply for a driver’s license for at least seven years and if she does get a license will have an alcohol ignition-interlock device installed. She will also need to meet with a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor for an evaluation to be completed while she is jail.
“I do thank God I had Henry for all the years I did. I just know now that he is in a good place,” said Jean Magee.