Print
Share page with AddThis

Man sentenced to prison for hit-and-run that killed Shelburne woman

45-year-old woman killed on morning walk with best friend
Posted on: November 30, 2022 - 4:16pm
ADA Joseph Webber handled the case for the DA's office

GREENFIELD  –  A Northampton man who fled the scene after striking and killing 45-year-old Rhonda Thompson in 2021 was sentenced to 5 years in state prison and lost his license for 15 years following his guilty plea today.

Peter E. Toomey, 53, pleaded guilty to charges of leaving the scene of personal injury causing death, misleading a police officer and negligent motor vehicle homicide before Franklin Superior Court Judge Karen Goodwin.

The plea agreement and sentence recommendation were jointly recommended by Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Joseph Webber and defense attorney Jonah Goldsmith. After serving his prison sentence, Toomey will be on probation for five years.

Toomey struck and killed Rhonda Thompson, as she was taking her morning walk with a friend around 6:30 a.m. in the breakdown lane of Route 2 in Shelburne. Toomey never slowed down after he struck Thompson, at which point the friend walking with her flagged down passersby for help. Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene 15 minutes later.

State police collision analysis team members later concluded that Toomey had an unobstructed view of Rhonda Thompson for 800 feet prior to the impact, there were no other vehicles on the roadway, no evidence of solar glare, road defects or mechanical issues and that Thompson had no opportunity to avoid being hit.

In court today, members of Thompson’s family, including her husband, sister and the friend walking with her when she was killed, spoke of the devastating loss they have experienced by her death. Her sister and other family members expressed unhappiness with the sentence, which they believe is too lenient. In a statement read in court by ADA Webber, Thompson’s daughter said “a bit of me died when she died.”

Though he said he understands the sentiments of the family regarding the sentencing recommendation, ADA Webber noted that the recommendation is above the state sentencing guidelines and was a sentence the District Attorney’s office decided was warranted in this case.

In accepting the plea and imposing the sentence recommended by the attorneys, Judge Goodwin said sentencing is complicated and many factors must be taken into consideration and that the sentence was appropriate.