News Release

On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at approximately 4:26 AM, Maine State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-95 southbound near mile marker 71 in New Gloucester. Upon arrival, Troopers located a serious crash involving a 2017 GMC Acadia towing a U-Haul trailer and a 2015 Audi SUV. The preliminary investigation indicates that the GMC, which was traveling southbound, became detached from the trailer ball remaining connected only by safety chains. The driver of the GMC pulled to the right shoulder and stopped, with the trailer still partially in the roadway.

Six people were in the GMC, including four children ranging in age from 7 to 14, all from Lewiston. Four occupants, an adult male driver, an adult female passenger, and two of the four children exited the vehicle and were attempting to address issues with the trailer when a southbound 2015 Audi SUV struck the trailer and the GMC from behind.

The adult female was pronounced deceased at the scene. The adult male driver suffered critical injuries and was transported to Maine Medical Center, where he later died. The two children who were outside the vehicle sustained minor injuries. The two children who remained inside the GMC also suffered minor injuries. All four children were transported to Maine Medical Center. Relationship information and family details are still being confirmed. Identities will not be released until verification is complete and next-of-kin notifications have been made.

The driver of the Audi, an adult male from Wales, sustained minor injuries. He was transported to Maine Medical Center where he was treated and released. No charges are being filed against the driver at this time.

The dynamics and circumstances of the crash remain under active investigation.  

Maine State Police would like to thank Gray Fire and Rescue, Auburn Fire and Rescue, Auburn Police Department, United Ambulance, New Gloucester Fire and Rescue, and the Maine Turnpike Authority for their assistance at the scene.

On November 17, 2025, at approximately 5:55 AM, the Maine State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on I-95 northbound near Mile Marker 143 in Pittsfield.

Troopers arrived to find a 2012 Subaru Impreza that had gone into the median and become lodged in the trees. The driver, 56-year-old Rae Hartford of Scarborough was pronounced deceased at the scene and had to be extricated from the vehicle.

Preliminary investigation indicates speed and intoxication were likely contributing factors. Lane 1 was shut down for approximately two hours.

The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Trooper Klayton Peckham at 207-973-3700, Ext. 9. Assisting on scene was Pittsfield Rescue and Blanchard’s Towing.

On Thursday, November 13, 2025, at approximately 9:21 PM, the Maine State Police, Fairfield Police Department, and Waterville Police Department responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a residence on Dyer Court in Fairfield. It was reported that an armed male, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs, had forced entry into the residence, was acting erratically, and was damaging property.

A Trooper arrived first and observed a male fleeing the residence and getting into a black Ford sedan. The suspect did not comply with the Trooper’s commands and began yelling out the window as he backed up the street and fled from Dyer Court. A Trooper caught up to the vehicle, but the operator failed to stop. A motor vehicle pursuit ensued through Waterville, ending when the suspect’s vehicle struck a guardrail on Water Street. The vehicle came to a stop, and the operator fled on foot. A short time later, the suspect was taken into custody without incident. There were no injuries reported.

The suspect was identified as 27-year-old Joel Williams of Vassalboro. Williams was arrested and transported to the Somerset County Jail where he was charged with the following crimes: Burglary, Criminal Mischief, Terrorizing, Eluding an Officer, Driving to Endanger, OUI Drugs, Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident, Criminal Speed, Reckless Conduct, Refusing to Submit to Arrest or Detention, and Violating Conditions of Release.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, September 21, 2025, Maine State Police Troopers from the Northern Field Troop responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots in the area of 272 Main Street in Corinth. When Troopers arrived, they located a wounded adult male, 32-year-old Michael McGregor of Skowhegan, outside of the residence. Troopers provided life-saving measures, and McGregor was transported by LifeFlight to a local hospital where he received medical treatment for gunshot wounds. Troopers made entry into a nearby apartment where they discovered a deceased male. Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit North and members of the Evidence Response Team were called to the scene to investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where on Monday, September 22, 2025, an autopsy was conducted. The deceased was identified as 46-year-old Scott Roberts of Glenburn. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

After an extensive, several weeklong, multi-agency investigation into the incident an arrest warrant was issued for 27-year-old Jawon Owens of East Hartford, Connecticut, for the crimes of Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Aggravated Assault with a Firearm. On Thursday, November 13, 2025, Jawon Owens was arrested by members of the Hartford Police Department without incident. Jawon Owens is currently being held at the Hartford Correctional Facility pending extradition back to the State of Maine for an initial appearance at the Bangor Judicial Center.  

At this time, there is no ongoing risk to the public, but the investigation remains active. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Maine State Police - Major Crimes Unit North at 207-973-3700, extension 9, and request to speak with Detective Jake Ferland. Information related to this case may also be submitted to the Major Crimes Unit North via an online tip portal. https://www.maine.gov/dps/msp/about/report-crime/major-crimes-unit-north

On Friday, November 14, 2025, at approximately 11:17 AM, the Maine State Police received a report of a man who had fallen from the roof of a moving bus near mile marker 2 southbound on the Maine Turnpike in Kittery. Troopers responded and located several civilians, both motorists and passengers from the bus, providing aid to the injured man. The man, identified as 35-year-old Derrick McDuffy of New York, had suffered serious injuries.

Kittery Fire/EMS transported McDuffy to Portsmouth Regional Hospital with injuries believed to be serious but not life-threatening. Witnesses reported that McDuffy stated he was feeling overheated and opened the bus’s emergency roof access hatch before climbing onto the roof while the bus was in motion. Upon realizing what was happening the driver began slowing the bus and attempting to pull over when McDuffy fell from the roof to the roadway, landing on the shoulder of the Turnpike. The bus involved was operated by Concord Coach Lines. A replacement bus arrived to pick up passengers.

Traffic in the area slowed briefly but was not significantly impacted. Kittery Police and Kittery Fire/EMS assisted on scene. The investigation remains ongoing.

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta has confirmed that the human remains discovered in Blaine on October 30, 2025, have been identified as those of 36-year-old Tomis Hoyt of the Presque Isle area.

The cause and manner of death are still pending further investigation. The investigation remains active, and no additional information will be released at this time.

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.