A Lewiston man has been charged with manslaughter, as well as a handful of other charges related to driving under the influence, for a May 2025 crash that left one passengers dead.
Blaze Small, 25, of Lewiston was driving the 2017 BMW about 4:17 a.m. on May 21 when the vehicle crashed into a 816 Webster St. home, according to the Lewiston Police Department.
The crash left many of its occupants trapped inside the BMW.
One passenger, 28-year-old Natasha Thoits of Lewiston, died at the scene after rescuers extricated her from the BMW.
Small has been charged with a Class A charge of manslaughter; a Class B charge of an aggravated OUI resulting in death; a Class C charge of aggravated OUI resulting in serious bodily injury; a Class C charge of driving to endanger; a Class E charge of criminal speeding; and a Class C charge of reckless conduct.
All of the charges except the charge of criminal speeding carry a minimum suggested sentencing of five years. Small, who had been going 103 MPH in a 35 MPH zone, would be subject to a minimum sentence of six concurrent months.
He was sentenced in Androscoggin County Superior Court to 21 years, with all but five and a half years of the sentence suspended. He is also subject to four years of probation.
Small suffered minor injuries in the May 2025 crash, and another passenger was taken to Central Maine Medical Center with injuries not considered life-threatening.
A third passenger was seriously injured and transported to Central Maine Medical center at the time of the crash.
Small has been taken into custody without incident, according to the Lewiston Police Department.
