Youths Killed by Drunk Driver

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – On Tuesday, Jan. 14, the lives of Weston Lea, 18, and Mike D’Amico, 18, ended tragically from the careless action of a drunk driver. While walking along 175A, a 1991 Mercury Sable station wagon, heading east, struck the Holderness School students.

The driver, Anthony J. Begin, 38, of Holderness, hit the eighteen-year-olds on his way home from the Bier Haus located in downtown Plymouth. Begin fled the scene of the crime and continued on his way home, approximately two miles away from the scene of the crime. Police arrived at the scene to find one boy dead and one in critical condition that later died at Speare Memorial Hospital.

Police tracked Begin to his home and discovered heavy damage to the front end, hood and windshield of his car. Begin had an odor of alcohol, blood shot eyes and he was very unsteady on his feet. Police also noticed that there were footprints in the snow around the front of Begin’s car implying that he was aware of the damage.

Police took Begin into custody and charged him with, “two accounts of negligent homicide, one count of misconduct after an accident, and one count of possession of drugs,” stated Rick Carey, Director of Communications for the Holderness School. Police reported that the defendant “did have on a coffee table in his residence a chrome pipe with residue in the pipe containing a quantity of a leafy cannabis based drug commonly referred to as marijuana.”

Begin has waived his right to a probable cause hearing in return for a bail of $25,000 cash or corporate surety. The terms of his bail include but are not limited to, remaining in the state of New Hampshire; absolutely no alcohol or drug use and a curfew of six p.m. seven days a week. Begin is also required to report to the arresting law enforcement agency every day at eight a.m. and three p.m. The Plymouth District Court has remarked that Begin’s release will possibly endanger the safety of the defendant, another person or the community.

Begin’s trial has been set for, Monday, Feb. 17, at 1 p.m. in courtroom 1. The Honorable Judge Kelly will preside over this case. Gary Apfel and Ellen Swain, both public defenders, will represent Begin. Currently, the state is reconstructing the scene of the fatal accident to assist with the trial.

Meanwhile the Holderness School mourns the loss of two of their most popular seniors. Carey stated, “Both were held in high regardÖand were outstanding athletes.” Weston Lea was an All-New England soccer player and one of the best players on the school’s Division 1 hockey team. His advisor, Pat Dennehy, described him “as an athlete, Wes was fast, hardworking, and spirited, someone who loved competition. And as a person, he was compassionate, gregarious, and intensely loyal to his friends.”

Although Mike D’Amico was a new addition to the Holderness School he had no problem fitting in. “Mike was a particularly outgoing kid, similar to Wes in many ways,” remarked Duane Ford. “He was well-liked as any kid in the school.” Holderness Director of Athletics, Bob Low, commented that the boys really made a difference at the school. “They epitomized what coaches try to teach: camaraderie, selflessness, intensity, fun and spirit.”

All classes and athletic games and practices were cancelled the day after the accident. This time was for students to remember and to mourn Weston Lea and Mike D’Amico. In the days that followed the parents of the two boys collaborated to found the Weston Lea and Michael D’Amico Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund has been organized to help a future student of the school in need of financial aid. In just twelve days the fund raised over $25,000.

Phil Peck, Head of Holderness School remarked, “there are times in life when you have to look and question, but receive no answer. This is one of those times.”