MSP Investigates Fatal Crash in Farmington

On Monday, March 25, 2024, at approximately 6:30 PM, the Maine State Police were requested to respond to the South Strong Road in Farmington to investigate a serious personal injury crash that occurred during a motor vehicle pursuit. As Troopers were responding to the call, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as 32-year-old Joshua Burdin of Strong was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The incident unfolded at approximately 4:59 pm when Deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office were called to a residence in the town of Strong to investigate a sexual assault of a child.  Burdin was immediately identified as the suspect and had fled the residence before officers arrived on scene. 

At approximately 6:11 PM, a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy located Burdin driving a 2006 Subaru Impreza in Strong and attempted to make a traffic stop.  Burdin failed to stop, leading Deputies on a low-speed pursuit through Strong and into Farmington on the South Strong Road where Officers with the Farmington Police Department were able to successfully deploy spike strips.  After the Subaru’s front tires were spiked, Burdin accelerated at a high rate of speed on the South Strong Road and struck a tree head-on.

The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy will be performed. The crash remains under investigation.