News Release

On December 31, 2024, at approximately 11:00 AM, State Police began taking calls about a wrong-way driver who was northbound in the southbound lane of Interstate 95 near mile 142 in Burnham. Minutes later, as troopers were en route to intercept the vehicle, reports of a head-on crash came in at mile 147 in Pittsfield.  Investigators determined Ivan Cunningham, 82, of Corinna, was operating his 2013 Ford Focus northbound in the southbound lane before striking a 2023 Ford F-150, operated by 27-year-old Nathaniel Blanchard of Stetson head-on. State Police, working with the Maine Department of Transportation, quickly shut I-95 southbound down at Exit 150, diverting traffic while Rescue personnel responded. Cunningham was pronounced dead at the scene. Blanchard, despite the severity of the crash, was flown via Life Flight to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor with injuries that are considered non-life threatening. This portion of I-95 was closed for approximately two hours while a State Police Reconstruction team assisted Troop I with their investigation. 

On December 27, 2024, at approximately 6:04 PM, State Police received numerous reports of a significant crash southbound near mile marker 42 on the Maine Turnpike in Scarborough.  Traffic was already congested in the area due to other crashes when a 2017 U-Haul, driven by Jason McAvoy, 59, of Old Orchard Beach, collided with a tanker truck operated by Kenneth Openshaw from Massachusetts.  The force of this collision propelled the tanker forward, striking a 2023 Subaru driven by Thomas Gillis, 32, also of Old Orchard Beach. This caused a chain reaction, resulting in the Subaru rear-ending a 2005 Dodge Ram operated by Zachary Taylor, 31 of Searsmont, shutting all three lanes southbound.

When troopers arrived, they found McAvoy trapped inside the U-Haul. The Scarborough, Portland, and South Portland Fire Departments and several tow trucks quickly responded to ensure his safe extraction. LifeFlight promptly landed nearby and transported McAvoy to Maine Medical Center in Portland while other drivers received treatment at the scene. The State Police Crash Reconstruction and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement assisted Turnpike Troopers and conducted a thorough investigation.  Investigators believe driver fatigue and inattention are the main contributing factors to the crash.

On Friday, December 20, 2024, at approximately 5:27 AM, an adult female arrived at the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office to report an incident that occurred at her home. The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Kennebec County Sheriff's Office for assistance as the home is located on Summerhaven Road in Sidney. Deputies conducted a wellbeing check at the residence and discovered a deceased 14-year-old juvenile male outside of the home. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central responded to the scene. Detectives and Evidence Response Technicians have actively been processing the scene, investigating, and conducting interviews throughout the day. At approximately 1:45 PM, 39-year-old Megan McDonald was taken into custody and transported to the Kennebec Correctional Facility where she has been charged with Murder. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta performed an autopsy and has determined the cause of death as a combination of asphyxiation, manual strangulation, and sharp force injury. The manner of death has been ruled a homicide. The identity of the juvenile is being withheld at this time. This remains an active investigation, and no further details are available.

On Monday, December 16, 2024, at approximately 11:30 AM, Troopers responded to a single vehicle crash at Exit 79 on the Turnpike in Lewiston involving a pickup truck hauling a cattle trailer. The driver was traveling southbound when the incident occurred. The initial investigation indicates that the rear doors of the cattle hauler were not properly secured, causing them to unlatch. As a result, the cattle inside the trailer shifted, leading to three animals falling from the back of the trailer onto the roadway and one cow running out of the vehicle once the trailer had stopped. One cow landed in the passing lane and suffered a broken leg, while two others sustained road rash and were located on the shoulder of the road. The fourth cow ran out of the trailer and into the woods nearby. Troopers secured one of the cows by tying it to the back of his cruiser, using a buddy system to help calm the other animals and prevent further movement. Traffic was impacted, with one lane temporarily shut down as the driver, 39-year-old Dustin Bubar of Stetson, Maine worked to reload the animals into the trailer. Bubar was cited for Unsecured Load on a Vehicle. Animal Control Officers from the Lewiston Police Department assisted on scene, along with passersby who stopped to help. Unfortunately, two of the injured cows are expected to be dispatched (euthanized) due to the severity of their injuries. The crash remains under investigation.

On December 16, 2024, at approximately 7:20 AM, Troopers from Troop I responded to I-395 Westbound on the bridge in Brewer. A Toyota Tacoma had lost control due to icy conditions, crashing in lane 3 and was facing the wrong way blocking traffic. The icy conditions proceeded to cause 3 more crashes in this area in the next few minutes. In total, 10 vehicles were involved. One female operator was transported to Saint Joseph’s hospital with complaints of pain due to airbag deployment. I-395 Westbound was closed for approximately 30 minutes. Maine DOT, Brewer Police Department, Brewer Fire Department and Northern Field Troop assisted on scene. While Troopers were on scene westbound, several vehicles began using a crossover east of the scene to go from I-395 westbound to I-395 eastbound. Due to the vehicles illegally using the crossover, eastbound traffic was forced to slow abruptly. This caused a 2-vehicle crash eastbound. There were no injuries due to the crash, but it did cause I-395 eastbound to be reduced to one lane for approximately 35 minutes. Brewer Fire and Maine DOT assisted Troopers with the eastbound crash. The crossover violators continued on and were not there when Troopers arrived.

*The Maine State Police would like to remind drivers that using crossovers is not permitted for any reason whatsoever. It is illegal and highly dangerous to everyone driving on the interstate. We ask that people drive responsibly for the safety of all motorists. 

On the night of December 14, 2024, a harrowing incident occurred on the Maine Turnpike in Falmouth. State Police received a report of a wrong-way driver at mile marker 53. A vehicle was dangerously traveling northbound in the southbound lane,  resulting in a head-on collision with a car operating southbound. The injuries sustained were minor, but the driver of the southbound vehicle, who was pregnant, was evaluated at the scene.  As a precautionary measure, Cumberland Fire and Rescue transported her and her passenger to Maine Medical Center in Portland. 

The driver of the wrong-way vehicle, a black 2017 Toyota Rav-4, was identified as Stephan Adams, a 30-year-old resident of Windham. Adams, who was also injured in the crash,  was found to be impaired during the investigation. As a result, he was charged with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol and Driving to Endanger. Adams was transported to Maine Medical Center for further treatment.

At approximately 2:34 PM, State Police were called to a two-vehicle crash on the Horseback Road in Levant. Troopers say a 2016 Jeep Renegade, operated by Kallie Urquhart, 23, was traveling southbound and collided with a 2008 Toyota RAV4 operated by Edward Spencer, 54, traveling northbound. Spencer was seriously injured in the crash and is currently in critical condition at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.  A two-year-old passenger in Spencer’s vehicle was flown via Life Flight and a third passenger was also taken by ambulance to Eastern Maine Medical Center. Urquhart was also injured in the crash and is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital. 

The State Police Reconstruction team has been called in and will continue to diligently investigate, providing updates as the case progresses.

On Thursday, December 12, 2024, at approximately 1:14 AM, Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash southbound on the Maine Turnpike on the high rise of the Piscataqua River Bridge.

The initial investigation indicates that traffic had stopped on the Maine/New Hampshire border due to a crash that had occurred in New Hampshire. A box truck was stopped in traffic on the Maine side of the bridge when a Toyota Camry driven by 41-year-old Jacob Wolterbeek of Portsmouth, New Hampshire crashed into the rear of the box truck. Wolterbeek was pronounced deceased on scene. Southbound lanes were shut down for several hours. The lanes have since re-opened. The crash remains under investigation.

On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at approximately 3:30 AM, Troopers responded to a crash at mile 68 northbound on the Turnpike in New Glouster. It was reported that a Tractor Trailer combination had left the roadway and partially rolled over. The initial investigation indicates that the driver of truck had lost control and struck the median guardrail before being redirected back off the road. The cab of the truck remained upright; however, the trailer rolled onto its side. The driver was uninjured. The truck was fully loaded with oranges and the Department of Agriculture was contacted. The truck sustained major damage during the collision sequence. Due to the freezing rain and the task of unloading and removing the truck it was determined that the truck will be removed tomorrow at 9:00 am after the storm. The Maine Turnpike Authority plans on having a full lane closure to safely remove the truck and contents. The truck and trailer are off the road and have marker barrels indicating that it is there. The truck is owned by DW Carrier INC of Fresno, California. Troop G was assisted by the Maine Turnpike Authority and the Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, shortly after 6:00 AM, the Maine State Police Central Field Troop received a report from a woman regarding threats and violence in the town of Palermo. The victim reported her ex-partner 45-year-old Jason Grant of Oakland, had made threats to cause her and others in her residence harm. State Police Troopers, Kennebec County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Oakland Police Officers responded to Ayer Street in Oakland where efforts were made to have Grant peacefully come out of his home. After several hours, Maine State Police Negotiators along with Tactical Team members were able to safely take the Grant into custody. Grant was charged with Domestic Violence Criminal Threatening, Domestic Violence Terrorizing, Violating Conditions of Release, and Creating a Police Standoff. Grant was transported to the Waldo County Jail where he will be held without bail. The Maine State Police was assisted by the Oakland Police Department, Oakland Fire and Rescue and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department.