Castners: Charge driver in fatal Marblehead crash

MARBLEHEAD – Allie Castner’s family and friends told the Board of Selectmen Wednesday night the pain her death generated won’t go away until the driver of the car that hit her is charged.The 15-year-old Castner died tragically when stuck on Pleasant Street around 7 p.m. on Aug. 24.Police Chief Robert Picar-iello said Wednesday afternoon that local and state police were scheduled to meet with the assistant district attorney today to review the evidence gathered in the investigation so far: physical evidence and interviews with 29 persons – including a key witness police re-interviewed Wednesday.However, the investigation has taken 30 days so far and Greg Spanos, a friend of the family, said he and others are are “in pain” and “appalled that this took more than an afternoon.””People in town will be extraordinarily disappointed if no charge is brought,” Spanos said. “They would understand if a charge is brought and there is no conviction.”Spanos said he was at the accident scene on the evening of Aug. 24 and saw the 18-year-old driver walking around the perimeter saying, “I can’t believe this happened,” a reaction Spanos said was “wrong.”The youth’s name is known by townspeople and he has a record that includes three speeding violations and a three-month suspension of his license.”Is this boy still driving a car?” Spanos asked. “Has his license been revoked or suspended? If not, why not?”Both Spanos and the girl’s father, Chris Castner, said police have mentioned that Allie’s feet may have been outside the crosswalk at the time of the accident. “I don’t need to prove where her feet were,” Castner said. “The problem here is accountability.”Castner thanked selectmen for the sympathy they extended to the family after his daughter’s death.Selectman Harry Christensen told him, “We have done everything we can to make sure we expedite a solution to this.”Police have declined to release the driver’s name during their investigation.Picariello’s statement said: “The Marblehead police want to make sure that this investigation is concluded in a complete and professional manner. I expect to bring this portion of the investigation to a conclusion (today).”