PRESS RELEASE
February 1, 2016
MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO KILLING AND INJURING
SKIDMORE STUDENTS ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT
Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A. Heggen announced today that Thomas H. Gorman
(DOB 12-20-50), of 16 Birch Meadows Estates, Saratoga Springs, pled guilty today in Saratoga
County Court to Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree, in violation of section 125.13(1)
of the Penal Law, a class “C” Felony, as well as, Vehicular Assault in the First Degree, in
violation of section 120.04(4) of the Penal Law, a class “D” Felony, before Saratoga County
Court Judge James A. Murphy, III.
Thomas H. Gorman pleaded guilty and admitted today in Court that his actions on October 31,
2015 ultimately caused the death of Michael Hedges, a 19 year old Skidmore College student,
from Lenox, MA. Two other Skidmore College Freshman, Oban Galbraith of Vermont and
Toby Freeman of New York City were also struck by Gorman’s vehicle and were seriously
injured in the crash.
At approximately 11:15 pm, Gorman was driving his 2009 Black Kia Optima southbound on
Clinton Street in the Town of Greenfield, on a straightaway, while intoxicated, when he suddenly
crossed over onto the gravel portion of the right shoulder where the victims, Hedges, Galbraith,
Freeman and another student were walking. Gorman hit the three students and narrowly missed
the fourth student, who was grazed by Gorman’s vehicle as he watched in horror as his friends
were struck by Gorman’s Kia.
.
DA Heggen said “Gorman admitted today in the Saratoga County Court that he operated a motor
vehicle while his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit. Gorman’s choice to
get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle with his blood alcohol content a .20 was a callous and
wanton disregard for the safety of others and caused the death of a talented young man and
severely injured two others.”
The District Attorney’s Office has been in regular contact with the victims and their families
throughout the proceedings. Assistant District Attorney Patrick J. Campion prosecuted the case
and commented, “These cases are difficult to prosecute because the reality is that no sentence
will ever bring Michael Hedges back to his family. Hopefully in the end, all of the victims will
find some measure of justice with the defendant’s admission of guilt today in Court.”
Gorman will be sentenced for his conviction of Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree to
no less than an indeterminate term of incarceration in State Prison of 4-12 years and no more
than an indeterminate term of incarceration in State Prison of 5-15 years, with the ultimate
sentence to be determined by the Court at sentencing. The defendant will also be sentenced to a
concurrent term of incarceration of 2-6 years for his plea of guilty to Vehicular Assault in the
First Degree.
The defendant will also be subject to a mandatory driver’s license revocation, as well as a three
year conditional discharge consecutive to his state prison term that requires Gorman to install
and maintain an ignition interlock device on any vehicle he owns or operates.
Thomas Gorman will be sentenced in Saratoga County Court on March 21, 2016 @ 1:30 pm.