BANGOR (AP) – A 57-year-old Lincoln woman was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison on manslaughter and drug charges stemming from a 2004 car accident that killed a Burlington woman.

As part of a plea agreement, Teresa Babbitt was sentenced in Penobscot County Superior Court to 10 years in prison with all but 18 months suspended on the manslaughter charge. She was also sentenced to 364 days for drug possession, which will be served concurrently.

Babbitt pleaded no contest last month to manslaughter in an accident in Greenbush that killed 41-year-old Maria Fontaine. Babbitt said she was “bingeing” on cocaine the night of the accident and was on her way to buy more of the drug for a friend.

Babbitt’s blood tested positive for cocaine and other substances, and she had cocaine in her possession, prosecutors said.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Babbitt’s comments stunned Justice Jeffrey Hjelm and upset the victim’s family.

“I’m sorry this lady died in the accident, but I’m glad I didn’t,” Babbitt said. She added that she was helping a friend get drugs at the time of the accident and now would have to be “very picky about who I help out.”

After the remark, Fontaine’s sister rushed from the courtroom crying.

Hjelm told Babbitt that she was blaming others rather than taking responsibility. “I can’t recall comments from someone in your position that were more callous,” he said. “The level of insight you’ve shown two years after this accident is remarkably minuscule.”

The sentencing was scheduled to be completed Thursday when Hjelm will decide whether he will order Babbitt to pay about $4,000 in restitution to the victim’s family for funeral expenses.

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