News Release

On Saturday, September 13, 2025, at approximately 9:30 PM, the Bangor Regional Communications Center received multiple 911 calls reporting a vehicle operating erratically on I-295 southbound, beginning around Mile Marker 45 in Richmond.

Troopers located the vehicle, a 2021 gray Jeep Wrangler, near Mile Marker 16 southbound in Yarmouth and initiated a traffic stop. During the stop, the driver, 34-year-old Jacob Brown of Scarborough, suddenly fled at a high rate of speed. Troopers attempted to catch up to the vehicle with emergency lights and sirens activated. As the Jeep came into view, it veered off the right side of the roadway, at Mile Marker 13 southbound in Cumberland, crashing into the woods and becoming engulfed in flames.

Brown, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected a short distance from the vehicle. Troopers pulled Brown away from the fire and performed life-saving measures. He was pronounced deceased a short time later.

Preliminary investigation indicates that speed and alcohol were contributing factors in the crash. Assisting agencies included Yarmouth Fire and Rescue and Southern Maine Towing. The crash remains under investigation.

On Sunday, September 14, 2025, at approximately 7:00 AM, Troopers from Troop I responded to a report of a vehicle that had driven off I-295 southbound at the West Gardiner/Gardiner line and into the Cobbosseecontee Stream beneath the bridge. Trooper Tom Bureau arrived within minutes and was advised by a witness that the vehicle was submerged in the water and had not been seen since it crashed. Trooper Bureau immediately removed his duty belt and protective equipment before entering the water in an effort to rescue the driver. Trooper Bureau swam about seven feet down and was able to feel the vehicle but was unable to see due to oil in the water. He remained in the water for approximately five minutes attempting to gain access to the vehicle before learning that the driver had safely escaped and swam to a nearby residence.

The preliminary investigation indicates the driver 27-year-old Brandon Nale of Winslow, fell asleep while driving. His vehicle, a 2020 Audi Sedan left the roadway to the left, traveled down an embankment between the guardrails, struck a sign and a concrete barrier, and then launched into the stream. Nale was able to open the door and swim away before the vehicle sank. He was transported to Maine General Hospital in Augusta with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Maine State Police Dive Team assisted in recovering the vehicle. The left lane of I-295 was shut down for approximately one hour during the recovery. State Police were assisted at the scene by Gardiner Fire & Rescue, West Gardiner Fire, Maine DOT, and AC Towing.

On Friday, September 12, 2025, at approximately 7:52 AM, Troopers responded to a crash involving a vehicle and a horse-drawn wagon on Benedicta Road in Sherman.

The initial investigation indicates the driver of a 2003 Toyota pickup attempted to pass the horse and wagon, which were traveling in the same direction, but reported she did not have enough room to safely do so and struck the wagon. The male operator of the wagon was ejected and landed on the roadway. He was transported to Houlton Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The wagon was destroyed in the crash, and the horse sustained a laceration to its leg and foot. The driver of the Toyota, Lindsay Duffy-Stanley (42) of Benedicta, was not injured. She was cited for driving to endanger.

On Friday, September 12, 2025, at approximately 12:47 AM, a tractor trailer crashed into the Gorham Road overpass bridge at mile 44 south in Scarborough.

Preliminary investigation showed that the operator of the tractor trailer may have experienced a medical event and struck the center median wall before striking the bridge abutment. The operator was transported to Maine Medical Center with minor injuries.

Southbound was limited to one lane of travel for 5.5 hours and northbound was limited to two lanes of travel for 3 hours. Troop G was assisted by the Maine Turnpike Authority, South Portland Fire, Maine DEP, Ray’s Towing, New England Truck Center, and Clean Harbors. The crash remains under investigation.

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.