News Release

On Saturday, September 6, 2025, at approximately 8:55 AM, the Bangor Regional Communications Center was advised that an amphibious plane had crashed on Moosehead Lake in Greenville. Maine Game Wardens, local fire and rescue, Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the incident.

During Greenville’s annual International Seaplane Splash-In, pilot Barry Holtz (76) of Fairport, New York was attempting to land his Grumman G-44A Widgeon, a five-person, twin-engine, amphibious aircraft on to the lake when he crashed. Holtz was alone in the aircraft and received non-life-threatening facial injuries. He was able to escape through a rear door after the main doors would not open. Holtz was transported to the Northern Light CA Dean Hospital for treatment. First responders attempted to locate and recover the sunken aircraft, however due the extreme depth where it entered the water, recovery will take place at a later time.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is the primary investigating agency in all aircraft crashes. Any further questions regarding the investigation of the crash should be directed to the NTSB or the FAA.

On Thursday, September 4, 2025, at approximately 1:04 PM, Troopers from Troop I responded to a single vehicle crash on the southbound exit 113 off-ramp of I-95 in the city of Augusta.

The initial investigation indicates 54-year-old Shaun McFarlin of Augusta was driving a 2006 Ford pickup truck on the southbound off-ramp when he left the roadway, leading to a rollover crash. McFarlin was pronounced deceased on scene from injuries sustained in the crash. McFarlin was not wearing a seatbelt. Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash.

Troopers on scene were assisted by Augusta Fire & Rescue, Maine DOT, and AC Towing. The off-ramp was shut down for approximately 1.5 hours. The investigation is ongoing.

On Monday, September 1, 2025, at approximately 1:31 PM, the Augusta Regional Communications Center received a report of a plane crash on Flagship Lake in Dead River Township.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a 1956 Cessna 170B float plane was attempting to take off from the lake when it crashed. On board were the pilot, 62-year-old Stephen Vorpagel of Readfield, and one passenger. Both individuals were rescued, brought to shore, and suffered minor injuries/abrasions in the crash.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Agencies assisting in the response and investigation include the Maine State Police, Maine Warden Service, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, local EMS, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Federal Aviation Administration. No additional details are available at this time.

On Thursday, August 28, 2025, at approximately 8:30 AM, Troopers responded to multiple complaints of a white van traveling southbound on I-95 at a high rate of speed and driving erratically. Shortly after, the van crashed into the guardrail and rolled over at mile marker 118 southbound in Sidney.

All three occupants of the vehicle were transported for medical evaluation. The driver and a juvenile passenger were taken to Maine General Hospital in Augusta for treatment of minor injuries and were later released. A third occupant sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by LifeFlight to Maine Medical Center in Portland. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

The driver, 28-year-old Shawn Stone of Presque Isle was summonsed for Operating Under the Influence, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Reckless Conduct and Aggravated Driving to Endanger.

The crash remains under investigation.

On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at approximately 4:01 PM, the Maine State Police responded to a motor vehicle/pedestrian crash on Main Street in Van Buren.

An ambulance operated by the Van Buren Ambulance Service was traveling north on Main Street when an 8-year-old girl attempted to cross the roadway. The child was struck by the ambulance and sustained life-threatening injuries. Ambulance personnel rendered aid at the scene, however, the child, who lived nearby, succumbed to her injuries. The ambulance was not responding to an emergency call at the time of the crash, and speed is not believed to be a factor.

The crash occurred in the area of Kennedy Terrace on Main Street. Maine State Police were assisted on scene by the Presque Isle Police Department, Van Buren Fire Department, and Soderberg Construction.

The crash remains under investigation.

If anyone was a witness to the incident or has any information regarding this case, please contact Cpl. Martin at the Troop F Barracks at 207.532.5400.

On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at approximately 1:28 AM, Maine State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 northbound at mile marker 161 in Plymouth. Troopers arrived to find a 2008 Hyundai on its roof in the median. The operator, 40-year-old Tyler Cochran of Skagway, Alaska, was deceased at the scene and had to be extricated from the vehicle.

Preliminary investigation indicates that speed and suspected impairment are likely factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to contact Trooper Bradley Condon at 207-973-3700, extension 9.

On August 22, 2025, at 7:03 AM, the Maine State Police (Central Field Troop & Troop K) responded to a report of a single-occupant motorcycle crash near the intersection of South Mountain Valley Highway and Hogback Mount Road in the town of Montville, Waldo County.

When first responders arrived on scene, they located a 50-year-old male unconscious and in serious condition. The operator whose name is not being released at this time was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor by Life Flight.  

The Maine State Police were assisted on scene by Montville Fire and Rescue and the Maine State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit. The incident is still under investigation, and speed has been determined to be one of the primary causes for the crash.

We are asking for anyone who witnessed the crash to contact Cpl. Dan Grenier at 207-624-7076 x 9.

On August 21, 2025, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit requested an arrest warrant for Thomas Karod, 56, of Camden, for Possession of Sexually Explicit Materials, a class C felony, in reference to an ongoing investigation. 

A Judge reviewed and approved the arrest warrant, and Karod was taken into custody without incident with the assistance of the Damariscotta and Camden Police Departments. 

Bail was set at $500 cash with conditions not to use the internet and not to have contact with children under the age of 18. 

On 8/15/2025, Detectives from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Central obtained an arrest warrant for James Clark (DOB 4/6/76) of Damariscotta, charging him with Murder. The warrant was issued following several days of investigation into the death of Levern Kelley of Waldoboro. 

Clark fled Maine and was located with the assistance of the MIAC in Maine and Volusia County, Florida. Major Crimes Unit Detectives coordinated with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, who arrested James at the Red Carpet Inn in the South Daytona area at 6:40 PM on 8/15/2025. 

James was arrested without incident and is awaiting extradition to Maine. Updates will be provided when appropriate.

On Friday, August 15, 2025, at approximately 1:55 PM, the Windham Police Department was notified of a shooting that occurred at the intersection of Roosevelt Trail (Route 302) and Landing Road in their town. Witnesses reported a male on a motorcycle, later identified as ERIN HAYNE, 33, of Casco, suffering from gunshot wounds. Witnesses, along with a Maine Game Warden who happened to be in the area, began life-saving measures on HAYNE. HAYNE was eventually pronounced deceased on scene by medical personnel from the Windham Fire Department.

Windham PD, along with Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Maine State Police, and Maine Game Wardens, responded to the scene. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South was requested to respond to lead the investigation.

Witnesses reported that a silver sedan pulled up next to HAYNE, then pointed a firearm from the vehicle and fired numerous shots at HAYNE. Witnesses in a UHAUL truck began to follow the shooter’s vehicle while calling 911, providing the license plate to dispatchers. The UHAUL eventually lost sight of the vehicle near the Raymond/Windham town line.

Deputies from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office located the suspect’s vehicle behind the Dunkin Donuts on Route 302 in Raymond, but it was unoccupied. The area was secured, and a perimeter was established. The Maine State Police Tactical Team conducted a K9 track and located the suspect’s body.

Investigators withheld the status of the deceased male and the names of those involved while they worked on positively identifying them and making attempts to notify the next of kin.

The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit, along with the Windham Police Department, was able to positively identify the male as JAMES FORD, 48, of Windham, the registered owner of the vehicle. The investigation revealed FORD left his apartment in Windham shortly before the shooting. FORD was observed as the only occupant of the vehicle and lived alone. The investigation is still ongoing, and there is no known connection between HAYNE and FORD.

Route 302 in Windham was closed for approximately six hours while members of the Maine State Police Evidence Response Team documented and collected evidence from the scene. The bodies of HAYNE and FORD were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsies. The autopsies were performed on August 16 at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. HAYNE’s cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, and his manner was declared a homicide. FORD’s cause of death was a single gunshot wound, and his manner was a suicide.

The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone who happened to be in the area of the shooting or traveling on Route 302 at the time of the incident and who may have video is asked to use the QR code below to provide investigators with the video.

The Maine State Police and Windham Police would like to thank the numerous agencies that responded, including the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Maine Warden Service, Maine Forestry Service, and the fire departments from Raymond and Windham.

The investigation will continue by members of the State Police Major Crimes Unit South, and we will provide more information when it becomes available.