Fatal Crash

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at approximately 7:11 a.m. the Maine State Police and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two vehicle crash on Route 1 in Edmunds Township near the intersection of Tide Mills Road. The driver and lone occupant of a 2006 Silver Buick Lucerne was traveling southbound on Route 1 when he lost control of his vehicle, skidded across the roadway and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The driver of the Buick was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

The second vehicle, a 2010 Blue Toyota Prius was carrying two occupants. The driver and an eleven-year-old passenger in the back seat.  The  child sustained critical injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. The driver of the Prius was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. 

The area of Route 1 and Tide Mills Road was shut down for several hours. The road has since reopened.

Downeast Ambulance Service and the Whiting Fire Department assisted with the crash along with many Washington County citizens who stopped to help.  

In an effort to be sensitive to all parties involved we are not releasing the names of the drivers or the deceased until the crash report is completed. 
 

On Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. Maine State Troopers responded to a single vehicle crash on Calais Rd. in Danforth. The vehicle, driven by 81-year-old Anthony Swett of Columbia Falls, ME was traveling northbound when the vehicle went off the road and struck a tree. Mr. Swett was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the only occupant in the vehicle. Initial investigation shows weather and inadequate tires for road conditions are contributing factors in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation.

 From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Saturday, November 20, 2021 at approximately 2:45 p.m. Maine State Police responded to a single vehicle crash at mile 100 on I-95 in Litchfield at the West Gardiner Toll Plaza. Upon investigation it was discovered that a vehicle traveling southbound crashed into a guardrail, redirected itself back onto the highway and then struck the center pylon at the toll plaza causing the car to burst into flames. The single occupant of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy this week to determine the identity of the driver.

The crash lane was closed for a couple of hours while the car was removed. The highspeed lanes remained open.

Assisting on scene was the Gardiner Ambulance Service, the West Gardiner,  Litchfield and Augusta Fire Departments.

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Sunday, November 14, 2021, at 8:01 a.m. Franklin County Regional Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a single motor vehicle crash on Weld Rd. (Route 156) in Phillips. Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the crash as well as NorthStar Ambulance and local fire departments to render aid. Deputies requested the resources of the Maine State Police to respond due to the serious nature of the crash. A team of Troopers from Troop C responded and were notified that a 15-year-old male passenger from Dixfield was killed in the crash. A second passenger, 18-year-old Charlie Billings of Carthage, and the driver, 18-year-old Benjamin Carrol of Dixfield were both transported to Franklin Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

Preliminary investigative information suggests that Carrol, who was driving a 2002 Nissan Maxima went off the right side of the roadway and struck several large trees. Speed is being considered as a contributing factor in this crash, however, it is still under investigation by the Maine State Police Crash Reconstruction Team.
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Thursday, September 30, 2021, at approximately 11:09 p.m. Maine State Police responded to a motor vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer and a car on I-95 northbound in Wells.  

The tractor-trailer, driven by 24-year-old Sahib Singh of Fresno, CA was traveling in the right lane when he observed a BMW parked in the breakdown lane. Singh moved to the middle lane from the right lane. The BMW, driven by 52-year-old Brian N. Anger of Auburn, MA pulled out directly in front of the tractor-trailer attempting to use the crossover. Singh was unable to avoid Anger and ran directly into the driver’s side of the car. Both vehicles came to rest in the median against the guardrail. It is unknown why Anger tried to use the crossover at mile 20. 

Brian Anger was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Sahib Singh, who was hauling bulk goods to Lewiston, was transported to Maine Medical Center with minor injuries. 
The crash remains under investigation.  
Northbound traffic was down to one lane and southbound traffic down to two lanes. At this time the left lane of the Turnpike northbound at mile 20 remains blocked.
Wells Fire and Rescue, Maine State Commercial vehicle, and Maine State Police traffic unit assisted at the scene.
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 8:35 p.m. Maine State Police responded to a single vehicle roll-over on the Oliver Hill Road in Garland.  A 2003 Dodge Durango, driven by 18-year-old Jacob Campbell of Exeter left the roadway and rolled over before striking a tree. Campbell was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers in the vehicle were transported to Mayo Hospital in Dover with non-life-threatening injuries.  State Police say speed was a factor in the crash and they continue to investigate. 

If anybody witnessed this crash or has information on this case, please contact State Police Troop E at 207-973-3700.

The Maine State Police were assisted by the Garland Fire Department. 
 

On September 9, 2021, at approximately 1:33 p.m. Renee Bubier (39) of Perry was traveling westbound on Route 9 in Amherst in a heavy rain storm when she lost control of the vehicle and went off the roadway. The vehicle rolled several times. Renee suffered critical injuries and is currently admitted at Eastern Maine Medical Center. Also in the vehicle was Renee’s husband, Ervins Bubier (41). Ervins was pronounced deceased on scene.

On Aug. 18, 2021, at approximately 6:50 a.m., Troopers responded to a report of a single vehicle crash off the road on Rt. 202 in Lebanon.  Troopers learned that the vehicle was operated by 22-year-old Nathan Celley of Springvale, who was the only occupant of the vehicle at the time of the crash.  Mr. Celley did not survive the crash and speed was likely the cause of the crash. Maine State Police extend their condolences to family and friends of Mt. Celley during this difficult time.

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On August 11th, 2021, at approximately 10:18 p.m., Maine State Police responded to a fatal crash on Ayers Junction Road in Pembroke involving a 2009 Toyota Camry, driven by 58-year-old Hardy Preston of Edmunds Township and a 2003 GMC Sonoma, driven by 17-year-old Russell Kirshman of Marion Township. The crash occurred when Kirshman, traveling in the westbound lane crossed the centerline and struck Preston’s car head-on. 

Preston died at the scene. Kirshman was transported to Calais Regional Hospital for minor injuries.

Distracted driving and driving too fast for conditions appear to be factors in the crash. 
 
Corporal Jeffrey Taylor responded as the primary investigating officer and was assisted at the scene by Sergeant Jeffrey Ingemi, Border Patrol, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Pleasant Point PD. Baileyville PD., Pembroke Fire, Dennysville Fire and Rescue, Calais Ambulance, and Lyon’s Towing.  

The Maine State Police would like to extend their condolences to the family and friends of Hardy Preston.
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO.

A Caribou man was killed in early morning crash on the Turnpike in Kittery. 

Maine State Police is investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on Thursday, August 5, 2021, at approximately 12:37 a.m. on the ME Turnpike. The crash, involving a passenger car and a tractor-trailer truck occurred southbound at mile 2 in Kittery by the Wilson Road overpass. 29-year-old Caleb Ewing of Caribou, the driver of the car died at the scene. The tractor-trailer, owned and operated by 46-year-old Joshua Stone of Auburn was uninjured. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage. 

It is believed that Ewing entered onto the turnpike in Kittery and traveled in the wrong direction going northbound in the southbound lane. Stone and his tractor-trailer truck, which was hauling bottled water at the time, were traveling southbound and took evasive action upon spotting Ewing, but could not avoid the collision. Ewing struck the side of the tractor-trailer truck rupturing the fuel tank which caused diesel fuel to spill out onto the roadway.

The turnpike was shut down to one lane for hours while police investigated and crews worked to remove the vehicles and re-open the roadway. Assisting in the investigation were MSP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, the Kittery Fire Department, Kittery Police Department, York Police and Fire Departments, the DEP, and National Wrecker Service.

The investigation is ongoing. It is unclear at this time if speed and alcohol were contributing factors.