The ex-principal of Merrimack Valley Middle School recently pleaded guilty to driving drunk in a car crash in Belmont earlier this year.
Kara Lamontagne, 50, of Sanbornton was convicted March 5 in Laconia’s district court of a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated in connection with the crash on Union Road on Jan. 27. Her license has been revoked for nine months and she was fined $620.
Lamontagne was referred to an impaired driver care management program and must undergo a substance abuse disorder evaluation to see if further treatment is warranted. If she complies and completes the program, she has the opportunity to have her driving privilege restored after three months.
After serving the Merrimack Valley School District for more than three years, Lamontagne tendered her resignation last month in the wake of her arrest, Superintendent Mark MacLean told the Monitor. Her resignation took effect on Feb. 17, exactly three weeks after the crash.
In Lamontagne’s absence, Assistant Principal Brian Lynch assumed the duties of acting principal at the middle school, which serves students living in the towns of Boscawen, Loudon, Penacook, Salisbury and Webster. After Lamontagne resigned, the school board voted to officially promote Lynch to principal and, as a result, will now launch a search for a new assistant principal.
MacLean said previously that Lamontagne was not working the day of the incident, a Monday, and had been on leave.
According to police, Lamontagne was driving a black Mazda SUV on Union Road on Jan. 27 at about 3:10 p.m. when she failed to negotiate a curve, causing her vehicle to strike a tree head-on. The SUV sustained heavy front-end damage in the crash and was towed from the scene.
Lamontagne was taken by ambulance to the hospital as a precaution after she refused to submit to a breathalyzer test, according to court records. She was bailed on her charges directly from the hospital.
Police said she was traveling alone at the time of the crash and no other vehicles were involved.