Samantha Rinaldi death: How Jay Westra accident killed Samantha Rinaldi
Samantha Rinaldi death happened on Saturday night April 27th, 2019: Jay Westra was allegedly driving under the influence when his 2015 Honda Civic struck Samantha Rinaldi.
The 40 year old mother of four was walking on Yarmouth Road in Gray at about 7:46 p.m when the accident occurred. She died of her injuries at the hospital.
Samantha Rinaldi death:
Samantha was struck and killed Saturday night and 58 year old Jay Westra, has been charged with drunk driving in the accident.
Westra’s 11-year-old daughter was in the car when his 2015 Honda Civic struck Samantha Rinaldi. Rinaldi would later die of her injuries at Maine Medical Center.
Westra was taken to Cumberland County Jail and released on bail. Further charges against him could follow after the investigation is complete, according to Cumberland County Sheriff Naldo Gagnon.
Samantha was a mother of four children – Christian Ballard, 20, Griffin Ballard, 16, Jaden Ballard, 15, and Kali Ballard, 14.
She was a graduate of Portland High School and worked at local businesses, including a Cumberland Farms store. Rinaldi was devoted to her children, according to her ex-husband, Aaron Ballard.
Jay Westra is the husband of Chebeague Island School teacher Kristin Westra, who went missing for six days in 2018.
Kristin Westra, 47, was last seen Sept. 30, 2018. She was gone when her husband woke up the next morning. She left both her phone and car at home.
Six days after she went missing, her body was found in the woods near her North Yarmouth home. Her death was ruled a suicide.
May Samantha’s soul rest in perfect peace.
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