Driver in Death of Braintree Woman Indicted for Homicide

A Somerville man has been indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury after a drunk driving accident last summer led to the death of a 29-year-old Braintree pre-school teacher.

Sinead M. Lovett was sitting behind Richard Migliacci, 37, on a motorycle on July 9, 2010, when Migliacci allegedly began to drive erratically on Route 28 in Somerville while intoxicated, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said in a statement released Friday.

"It is alleged that the defendant ran a red light on Route 28 near Wellington circle and proceeded to travel at a high rate of speed while weaving between traffic lanes," the statement said. "Authorities allege that the defendant then cutoff an oil tanker on Route 28 south near Interstate 93 south and subsequently struck a center median."

Lovett was thrown from the motorcyle, suffering "significant visible injuries," while Migliacci allegedly walked the vehicle away from the scene. He is charged with felony motor vehicle homicide and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Both Lovett and the defendant were rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital, where Lovett was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Lovett was described as a pre-school teacher and "kindhearted and funny" in a Braintree Forum article published last July.

On the night of the accident, at approximately 9:10 p.m., Somerville police responded to the scene and found that Migliacci's blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit.

“This defendant is alleged to have been driving erratically and irresponsibly, with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit,” District Attorney Leone said. “We allege that the defendant was driving extremely negligently, resulting in the death of a young woman. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family.”