2026

On Friday, April 3, 2026, at approximately 5:02 AM, Troopers responded to a single vehicle crash on I-95 at mile marker 220 northbound in Howland.

The 2024 Freightliner box truck was on its side approximately 50 feet off the roadway, into the trees when State Police arrived. The operator, 55-year-old Kwasi Baidu of Bangor was trapped in the cab and extricated by Howland Fire and EMS and was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center with minor injuries.

Speed and snow/rain conditions were likely factors in the crash. Lane two was closed for several hours while the vehicle was removed from the tree line. Howland Fire and EMS and Union Street Towing assisted on scene.

On Friday, April 3, 2026, at approximately 9:07 AM, a Maine Turnpike Authority maintenance employee reported being rear-ended shortly after entering his truck, having just completed roadside debris cleanup on southbound I-95 at mile marker 57 in Cumberland.

Troopers responding to the scene observed a 2023 white Toyota Corolla with significant front-end damage blocking the right lane. The maintenance employee’s green 2020 GMC pickup truck was located in a ditch, suffering extensive rear-end damage. The Toyota was operated by 26-year-old Eric Sullivan of Lewiston.

The preliminary investigation indicates Sullivan may have fallen asleep while traveling in the right lane, veered into the breakdown lane, and collided with the maintenance vehicle, which had its green and amber warning lights activated. The maintenance employee, identified as 61-year-old Robert Brown of Poland, sustained minor injuries, and was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Sullivan was not injured.

Traffic was reduced to one lane for nearly an hour while crews worked to clear the scene. Sullivan was cited for Driving to Endanger and other motor vehicle violations. The crash remains under investigation.

On Friday, April 3, 2026, at approximately 7:00 AM, Troopers responded to a crash on Interstate 295 northbound near mile marker 16 in Yarmouth. The initial crash involved a single vehicle that left the roadway and came to rest in the median.

Two passing vehicles stopped on the median shoulder to assist the driver of the crashed vehicle. While those individuals were outside their vehicles, another vehicle traveling northbound struck the two stopped vehicles pushing one of them into the original vehicle in the median. The striking vehicle then became fully engulfed in flames. All individuals involved were able to exit their vehicles safely, and no injuries were reported.

Troopers worked the scene with the Yarmouth Police Department, Yarmouth Fire/Rescue, and the Maine Department of Transportation. The scene was cleared within approximately one hour of the initial 911 call. The crash remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time.

On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at approximately 11:36 PM, the Maine State Police received multiple reports of a vehicle stopped in the northbound travel lane of Interstate 95 near mile marker 157 in Newport.

While Troopers were responding to the reports, additional information was received indicating a crash had occurred involving the same vehicle and a tractor-trailer. The preliminary investigation determined that a 2013 Chevrolet Volt, operated by 33-year-old Juan Guallpa of Lempster, New Hampshire, was stationary in the northbound travel lane when it was struck from behind by a 2021 Freightliner. The impact pushed the Chevrolet Volt into the median.

The tractor-trailer also entered the median, where it rolled onto its passenger side and came to rest across both southbound lanes of travel. Guallpa was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer sustained minor injuries and was transported to Sebasticook Valley Hospital for treatment. At this time, it remains unknown why Guallpa’s vehicle was stopped in the travel lane.

Both northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 95 were shut down following the crash, and traffic was diverted. The northbound lanes were reopened at approximately 3:00 a.m. Southbound traffic remains reduced to one lane as crews continue working to remove the tractor-trailer. Cleanup and removal efforts are expected to take approximately eight hours.

Anyone with information related to this crash is asked to contact Trooper Joshua Staples at 207-973-3700, extension 9.

On Thursday March 26, Troopers from the Northern Field Troop responded to a domestic violence complaint in Sedgewick. As a result of the investigation, 31-year-old Caleb Heanssler of Deer Isle was located after a search of a wooded area at a residence in Deere Isle. Heanssler was arrested without further incident. 

Heanssler was charged with Domestic Violence Stalking, 4 Counts of Violation of Conditions of Release, Violation of Protection Order and for an outstanding arrest warrant for Domestic Violence Terrorizing. The Maine Warden Service, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and members from the Maine State Police Tactical Team assisted the Northern Field Troop with the investigation and arrest. 

The Maine State Police Special Victims Unit initiated an investigation earlier this month after receiving a direct report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip originated from a 14-year-old girl in Florida who reported inappropriate online communication with an adult male. The investigation involved 32-year-old Nicholas Nadeau of Winslow, Maine, who is now deceased. At the time of his death, the investigation was in its preliminary stages.

During that early phase, investigators identified evidence consistent with sexual exploitation offenses. Due to the death of Nadeau, the case has been closed, and no charges will be filed. Investigative resources will be focused on other active cases. The Maine State Police recognize the courage of those who come forward in these types of cases. Their willingness to report these incidents plays an important role in protecting others and helping law enforcement identify and investigate these crimes.

Anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a similar incident is encouraged to report it to their local law enforcement agency or through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

On Monday, March 23, 2026, at approximately 7:02 PM, Maine State Police responded to a crash on Interstate 95 northbound near mile marker 189 in Veazie.

The initial investigation indicates that an 18-year-old female from Bangor, operating a 2013 Kia Sorento, lost control of her vehicle due to snowy road conditions and came to rest in the median. She exited the vehicle and was standing behind the guardrail when a 54-year-old man from Medford stopped to assist and joined her behind the guardrail. His wife, who was traveling with him, called 911 while the two were outside of their vehicles. While both were outside their vehicles, they were struck by a passing vehicle operated by a 19-year-old female from Old Town, who lost control in the snowy conditions.

Preliminary information suggests the man may have attempted to shield the young driver at the time of the crash. Both pedestrians were thrown down an embankment. The 18-year-old sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The 54-year-old sustained serious injuries and remains in critical condition.

The operator of the striking vehicle also sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Speed is not believed to be a factor in the crash. The incident remains under investigation.

Bowdoinham: On Saturday, March 21, 2026, at approximately 2:27 PM the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Maine State Police Bomb Squad after they responded to a complaint of an individual who found a possible mortar round on their property on White Road in Bowdoinham. MSP Bomb Technicians Wing and Pescitelli arrived on scene and identified the item as an 81MM M374 mortar round. X-ray analyses showed indicators of the item being potentially hazardous. The round was removed from the residence to be rendered safe in a secure location.

Winslow: On Saturday, March 21, 2026, at approximately 3:36 PM, the Winslow Fire and Police Department responded to a residence on Main Street for a report of a hand grenade that was located while the complainant was cleaning out the residence. First responders requested the Maine State Police Bomb Squad and Technician Pina responded to the scene. The grenade was identified as a live standard MK2 hand grenade from the WWII or Korean War era. The grenade was removed from the residence and will be rendered safe in a secure location.

On Friday, March 20, 2026, at approximately 1:26 AM, the Lewiston-Auburn Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a shooting on Union Street in Lewiston. Lewiston Police responded to the scene and requested assistance from the Maine State Police. Upon arrival, officers located a female suffering from a gunshot wound.

The victim, identified as 22-year-old Maliyah Powell of Lewiston, was transported to Central Maine Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was performed. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound and the manner of death homicide.  Detectives from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South, along with Evidence Response Technicians, processed the scene throughout the morning.

As a result of the investigation 25-year-old Elise Bergeron of Lewiston, was arrested and charged with Murder. She was transported to the Androscoggin County Jail. The investigation is being conducted by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South, with assistance from the Lewiston Police Department.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Maine State Police at 207.624.7076 option 9.

On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at approximately 2:14 PM, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Central arrested 30-year-old Edward Longley of Skowhegan in Skowhegan.

Longley has been charged with Murder and Elevated Aggravated Assault in connection with a shooting that occurred on February 2, 2026, on Flagg Street in Augusta. As a result of the incident, 51-year-old Billyjack Curtis of Augusta died from the injuries he sustained. An autopsy was conducted at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, which determined the cause of death to be gunshot wounds and the manner of death homicide.

A second victim, 40-year-old Sherry Gilley of Brunswick, was also injured during the shooting. She was initially transported to MaineGeneral in Augusta and later transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland. She was released and is currently recovering from her injuries.

Longley was transported to the Somerset County Jail where he is being held without bail. No further details will be released at this time.