OLD TOWN, Maine — A fatal car accident on U.S. Route 2 early Tuesday has claimed the life of a 19-year-old University of Maine student, Old Town police Capt. Kyle Smart said.
Timothy J. Dodge of Rockland was heading away from campus in a silver sedan when he veered from the roadway at around 5:15 a.m., the police captain said.
“It went off the right hand side of the road and struck a tree,” Smart said. “It appears he was killed instantly.”
Dodge was alone in the car.
“Speed was a factor,” Smart said. “Beyond that [little is known]. We’ll be doing chemical tests. We have a detective retracing his steps over the last day to see what he was up to,” which is a standard procedure.
The possibility that Dodge just fell asleep has not been ruled out, the police captain said.
The crash closed South Main Street from the Orono town line to the Regency Trailer Park. The roadway reopened at around 10:30 a.m., Smart said.
Dodge, nicknamed “TJ,” was a psychology student at UMaine, according to the Maine Campus newspaper.
Officer Lee Miller is heading up the accident reconstruction portion of the investigation. He was assisted by officers from Orono and Bangor police departments.
prayers for the family…
Thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.
19 years old, very sad.
Regardless of anything, it’s a precious life lost. Be respectful of the loved ones of T.J. and hug your own loved ones. Life is unpredictable and every moment should be cherished. Thinking of the Dodge family. <3
R.I.P TJ you will be missed by many at school! Miss ya buddy
Prayers for family and friends of this young person.
So Sad and what a great loss.. My condolences to the family
In my thoughts. <3
RIP young man. Condolences to the family and friends of this young man. May you find comfort in each other.
Apparently trolls are oblivious to the fact that driving is non-addictive.
Lets leave him alone. if the one thing he gets out of this is feeling less bad about smoking, we should just quietly back away….
Do you drive?
TJ you touched so many life’s, you had such a big impact on so many people. You are going to be missed by everyone who knew you, I know that every time I saw you in the halls my freshmen year, you brightened up my day. You were always so happy and cheerful! I didn’t know you, but you will always be in my heart. My prayers go out to your family and your close friends <3
Having a son the same age as “TJ”, and also a Psychology major at a university, and three daughters (one younger and two older than 19 years old), you never feel the same pain and hurt and loss unless the child was yours. But prayers and heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and for the soul of “TJ” from me and my family.
Prayers for this family
TJ, you were a riot. miss you dude.