Waterville

UPDATE: Troopers have determined that the cause of the crash was the driver of the sedan failing to yield to oncoming traffic as they merged onto I-95 from exit 130. The Maine State Police would like to remind the motoring public that they are obligated to give way to traffic that is already traveling on the interstate. 

The Maine State Police responded to a crash on Interstate 95 at mile 129 south in Waterville that involved a car vs tractor trailer. Traffic on the interstate was momentarily at a standstill while fire and ems personnel provided medical care to those involved. Law enforcement worked quickly to open up one lane of travel to alleviate traffic congestion. Minor non-life threatening injuries were report to the occupants inside the vehicle and they were transported to Thayer Hospital in Waterville for further evaluation. The case is still under investigation and no further details are available for release. 

The Maine State Police would like to thank the Waterville Fire Department, Waterville Police Department, Maine Warden Service and Maine DOT for assisting them while on scene.
 

On Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 10/19/21 at approximately 8 p.m. a Maine State Police Trooper came upon a crash near mile marker 129 northbound on I-95 in Waterville. A 2006 Chevy Pickup being driven by 25-year-old Jace Tillson of Clinton was driving too fast when he attempted to go out around a 2015 Mercedes SUV being driven by 65-year-old Kemily Benes of Embden. Tillson attempted to pass Benes in the breakdown lane but struck Benes in the passenger side. Tillson then lost control of his pickup truck. It rolled over into the breakdown lane just before the Messalonskee Stream Bridge and caught fire. The interstate was shut down for approximately 1 ½ hours while emergency crews worked to put out the fire and remove both vehicles. 
There were no injuries.
 

On Wednesday, November 25, at 10:25 a.m., the Maine State Police Troop C responded to a report of a single-vehicle rollover on Interstate 95 in Waterville. On arrival, Troopers learned a blue 2003 Chevy pickup truck was traveling north at mile marker 127 and left the roadway during a snow storm. The vehicle went over the interstate guard rail near the overpass for Kennedy Memorial Drive (KMD) and landed on its roof in the westbound lane of KMD before going over another guardrail. Quickly following the collision the vehicle became engulfed in fire. 
 
The operator Gary Capehart, 71, of Sanford, and his passenger Susan Pope, 63, of Sanford were found deceased in the vehicle when first responders arrived. 
 
Westbound traffic on KMD was closed for approximately 2 hours while the crash was investigated. It is believed that speed, weather conditions, and traffic congestion due to another crash were factors. Prior to the crash Maine DOT was out maintaining the roadways and the advisory warning signs were on warning motorists to reduce their speed to 45-mph.
 
The Maine State Police would like to thank the many agencies that assisted them at the crash scene. The Waterville Police Department, Waterville Fire Department, Oakland Police Department, Oakland Fire Department, Delta Ambulance, the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, and Ace Towing. 
 
The Maine State Police would like to remind motorists to travel safely this holiday season. Reduce your speeds in inclement weather and abide by the advisory warning signs.
 

Deputy Waterville Police Chief William Bonney will update reporters on yesterday's shooting in the city.  The press conference will take place outside the Waterville Police Dept. at 1 p.m.

State and Waterville Police continue to investigate the shooting of a 7 year old girl in Waterville this afternoon.  The shooting was reported about 3:30 PM .  The girl was rushed to the Thayer Unit of MaineGeneral and then LifeFlighted to Maine Medical Center in Portland.  We continue to monitor her condition tonight and remain hopeful.   Police and evidence techs plan to work well into tonight to investigate the shooting and gather evidence from the second floor apartment on Summer St.  Additional information and an update is expected Saturday.   

State and Waterville Police are investigating the shooting of a young child in the city this afternoon. The girl was shot inside a home on Summer St.   The child was taken by ambulance to MaineGeneral’s Thayer Unit in Waterville, as police investigate what happened. 

On Jan. 1, 2020, State Police charged a Harmony man in connection with a shootout with police two Sunday's ago that started in Waterville and ended in Canaan after a police chase.  Richard Murray-Burns was arrested as he was being released from Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor Sunday afternoon, where he had been treated for gunshot wounds since the shooting on December 22.  Murray-Burns was charged with aggravated attempted murder and was taken to the Somerset County Jail.  He was released from the hospital early this afternoon and arrested by State Police detectives who transported him to the jail.  The arrest was made following consultation with the district attorney's office and Murray-Burns will likely make his first court appearance either Thursday or Friday. 

State Police say a 29 year old man is being treated for multiple wounds after he was shot by police in Canaan following a chase from Waterville, after a Waterville Police officer was shot and wounded.  Richard Murray-Burns of Harmony is being treated at EMMC in Bangor.

The Waterville officer – Timothy Hinton – was shot in both arms and was treated and released about 4:30 PM  from the Thayer unit of MaineGeneral in Waterville.  Hinton had stopped a car along Route 201 after a shoplifting complaint from Waterville’s Wal-Mart.   Hinton was fired upon as he in his cruiser and as the gunman’s car left the scene, Hinton, who was wounded,  began the pursuit until other officers could pick up the chase. Police officers from several police agencies  were involved in the pursuit, along Routes 201 and 23, ending at Route 2  in Canaan when several officers fired and wounded the suspect. 

Several police cruisers in the chase were struck by gunfire from the suspect , including a couple of cruisers which were disabled.  Murray-Burns was armed with an assault styled weapon.

As is standard in officer involved shootings, the Maine Attorney General’s Office  is investigating the incident and a team of investigators were sent to Canaan.  Eight police officers  shot at the suspect and they have each been placed on administrative leave with pay, which also is standard procedure.

In addition to Hinton, the officers involved were State Troopers Eric Sucy, Rick Moody, Daniel Murray and Garret Booth, Fire Marshal Investigator Ken MacMaster, Somerset Deputy Sheriff Stephen Arminger and Winslow Police Officer Cameron Huggins.  
 

The State Medical Examiner's Office says the body found in the basement of a Waterville apartment house Wednesday is  29 year old Melissa Sousa.   In addition, her longtime boyfriend, 28 year old Nicholas Lovejoy is now charged with murder.  The decision to charge Lovejoy was made by the Maine Attorney General's Office this afternoon, as State and Waterville Police continued the investigation into the discovery of Sousa's body.

 Lovejoy  remains at the Kennebec County Jail.  He was arrested by Waterville Police late Tuesday night for having a loaded rifle in his vehicle.  He was informed of the murder charge at the jail a short time ago and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday afternoon at 3 p.m.

from Steve McCausland, Spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. If you need additional info, call: 441-6216.