SOLON — A Skowhegan man has been arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection with a fatal crash that occurred last year on South Solon Road.
Rhaheem Friend, 34, was charged Thursday with Class A manslaughter, Class B operating after suspension with accident/death, and Class B OUI drugs/combo with death, according to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.
The charges stem from an August 7, 2024, single-vehicle crash discovered at approximately 7:10 a.m., when a vehicle left the roadway and struck a large tree.
Nicholas Foss, 39, of Madison, who was the front seat passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Friend, who was driving the vehicle, suffered serious injuries and was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Division investigated the crash from August 2024 through March, with Detective Michael Lyman serving as lead investigator.
Detective Lyman obtained an arrest warrant for Friend after completing the investigation, which was conducted with assistance from the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office.
Friend’s bail has been set at $50,000.
He was arrested April 10 at the Somerset County Correctional Facility, where he is currently incarcerated on unrelated charges.
