Marlborough Woman Pleads Guilty in Connection With Fatal Sudbury Crash

A Marlborough woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a charge of motor vehicle homicide in connection with a 2-car crash in Sudbury that led to the death of an elderly woman, said Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Wendy Courtney, 42, pleaded guilty in Framingham District Court on one count of motor vehicle homicide for the crash that occurred in 2011. She was sentenced to 2 1/2 probation with conditions that include losing her license for 15 years.

“By pleading guilty today, the defendant has admitted her responsibility for the crash which took the life of Stella Mercuri,” said District Attorney Ryan in a press release. “This death would not have occurred if the defendant had been properly focused on the road ahead. This incident should serve as a reminder of how quickly a tragedy can occur when a driver is not paying attention and gets distracted.”

“This was a terribly tragic crash that took the life of a 91-year-old woman,” Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix said. “I am grateful to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office for diligently bringing this case to conclusion.”

Just after 4 p.m. on Dec. 27, 2011, authorities say Courtney drove a car and had a passenger, who was Stella Mercuri, 91, of Marlborough. Courtney struck the back of a truck, which was stopped, on Route 20 in Sudbury. The investigation by Massachusetts State Police found no indication that Courtney put on her brakes or tried to turn, and Mercuri was seriously injured. She died from the injuries on Dec. 31, 2011.