AUGUSTA (AP) – Scott Hewitt, a trucker whose long record of driving offenses came to light following a fatal crash on the Maine Turnpike this summer, pleaded innocent Monday to nine charges stemming from the July 29 accident.

Hewitt, of Caribou, entered not guilty pleas to the misdemeanor charges during his arraignment in Augusta District Court before Judge Rae Ann French.

Charges against him include operating after suspension, possession of a suspended license, operating without authority, operating after being placed out of service, two counts of false record of duty status, operating without a medical certificate, operating while in possession of a radar detector, and operating while in possession of a controlled substance.

Two civil charges, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and operating without insurance, were added later, said District Attorney Evert Fowle.

Hewitt’s driving record, which includes 63 convictions and 23 license suspensions, outraged many Mainers following the July accident in a turnpike construction zone in which his truck crushed a car driven by Tina Turcotte. The 40-year-old Scarborough woman died of injuries sustained in the wreck.

Hewitt’s motor vehicle record brought to light numerous other cases of Maine motorists who continued to drive after their licenses had been taken away and prompted calls for reform from Gov. John Baldacci and several legislators.

Fowle earlier this month said a vehicular manslaughter charge was ruled out by findings of the investigation into the July 29 crash that Hewitt was not impaired and that speed and the condition of his truck were not factors.

Hewitt, meanwhile, on Wednesday is to finish a sentence in Cumberland County Jail in Portland on motor vehicle charges unrelated to July’s fatal accident.

Fowle said Hewitt will be transported to Kennebec County Jail, where he is to be held on the new charges pending bail. French has set bail at $500,000 surety or $100,000 cash.