On July 12, 2024, a tragic crash on Route 302 in Center Conway, New Hampshire, claimed the life of 54-year-old Steven Hawkes from Maine. The accident happened just before 4 p.m., about a mile from Fryeburg.

The details: Andrew Ouellette, a 35-year-old truck driver from Limerick, Maine, was hauling a 2022 Peterbilt with a trailer when he failed to notice stopped traffic and collided with a Ford F150, according to police. Hawkes, the driver of the pickup, was killed in the crash.

• Ouellette was charged with negligent driving.
• He pleaded no contest in court on August 5, 2025, and was ordered to pay a $310 fine.
• Police dropped more serious charges, including vehicular assault and reckless operation.

Sylvie Hawkes, Steven's wife, said the family will not file a civil lawsuit against Ouellette, and shared that the family's strong Christian faith led them to forgive and pray for the driver, reported The Laconia Daily Sun.

The case is now closed, and the fine has already been paid as ordered by the court.