PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A two-vehicle crash on U.S. Route 1 shortly before noon Wednesday has left a 4-year-old girl dead and three adults injured.
Though the child’s name was being withheld Wednesday evening, Presque Isle police confirmed that she was a passenger in a 2003 Pontiac Montana driven by Sarah Berube, 26, of Presque Isle.
Berube was stopped in the southbound lane of Route 1 waiting to turn onto Craig Road when her van was struck from behind by a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche driven by Arthur Cullins, 73, of Caribou, according to Presque Isle police Sgt. Mark Barnes.
Cullins did not see that the van had stopped, Barnes said in a news release issued early Wednesday evening.
The crash sent both vehicles into the northbound lane and shoulder, forcing other vehicles off the road to avoid a collision, Barnes said.
The girl was taken by ambulance to The Aroostook Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
Also taken to TAMC were Berube, Cullins and Jeffrey Ouellette, 31, who was a passenger in Berube’s van.
Ouellette was treated and released, Barnes said. He said Cullins had minor injuries but did not have information about the extent of Berube’s injuries. Information about their medical conditions was not available Wednesday.
Route 1, which was closed for nearly three hours after the crash, since has been reopened.
The accident remains under investigation by Presque Isle police Officers Cole Chandler, Chris Hayes and Peter Johnson.
They were assisted at the scene by Caribou police, Presque Isle firefighters, Caribou fire and emergency medical personnel and Crown Ambulance, as well as personnel from the Maine Warden Service and the Maine Department of Transportation.
Oh Sarah my prayers and love go out to you and you’re family! RIP baby girl!
OMG another crash. Rest in peace little angel. My heart goes out to all family and friends.
when are we going to take messures to test drivers over 50…. last year at the DMV I called the caribou PD because they were about to issue a lisence to a women that took two minutes to make it to the counter with her walker…. how the hell could she stop for an emergancy…. I was causing such a stur everyone there started to agree and the entire place was going wild,,,, the PD told the DMV something wrong here.. the 89 year old ladies 71 year old daughter was piste a t me for causing trouble and I asked when she runs over your grand kids your fine with that I guess
the recent fatal accident in Bangor was also involving a man over the age of 70. I totally agree with you and was thinking this same thing last week.
The older guy was having a seizure and that is why he cold not stop. :( I know the family he hit and it has changed there life forever. But my son has Seizure’s and they have no control over them. I feel bad for all involved in that accident with the 70 year old. And for this accident that poor child.
Awe that’s awful :( I know a friend that had seizures for awhile and the state took her license away for a bit until they were under control . I think sometimes certain doctors offices do that because they are afraid that it could cause an accident because you never know when one will come .
Did you mean the accident in Bangor or the one in Presque Isle today?
I think I missed the updated BDN story – the last thing I read about the older gentleman is that the hospital did all routine testing, and there were no signs of stroke, heart attack, seizures; in fact, the next step was to check for problems with the van. Would you direct me to the new story that mentions his seizure?
in re reading her statement I believe that she was receding to the elderly man that caused a fatal accident in Bangor. When I first read it I was wondering the same thing you were :-)
I am talking about the Bangor man, which I believe she is commenting to – we already know the man in PI just didn’t see the van stopped per article above. I would like to read the new article that states the man who created the Broadway, Bangor accident has a seizure.
Good for you standing up for the right thing! You are absolutely right! Kudos!!
I totally agree that many people over a certain age or with some physical disability causing them to not be able to have the reaction time to stop shouldn’t be driving. However, without public transportation many elderly people continue to drive out of pure necessity. Hopefully society will see that these people need to get to doctors and shopping along with anyother daily chores that need to be done outside the house and develop a transportation system that will enable them to surrender their driving previleges to keep the roads safer.
depending on where you live there is a bus that transports people that cant drive anymore…not just the kind that anyone can take. I mean a special service for certain people
Where I live you have to give public transportation 48 hours notice for a need for a ride to a doctor’s appointment — then your usually picked up too late for your appointment and or left at the doctor’s office for hours beyond you appointment waiting to be picked up again. There is no buses that just run from one streetcorner to the supermarket or to the bank or anything like that. Not saying someone that isn’t safe to drive should be driving — but something has to be done in rural areas to allow people to get their basic needs met.
I dont know about everywhere but I know that in the Ellsworth, Bangor and Lincoln areas there is a bus. I believe that this service is run through Penquis cap (bangor area) so if your in the county you could check with A Cap.
i believe the rides your talking about are lynx
The Aroostook Agency on Aging has volunteer drivers that donate their time & vehicle to get the elderly with any disability to/from doctor appointments and such. There are resources readily available you just have to be willing to use them.
I happen to agree with Katrina over the walker incident. That is definitely a disability that slows your reaction time considerably – she shouldn’t be issued a license. That being said, I don’t believe she should have caused a scene. That’s just plain rude.
I know there are transportation agencies that provide transportation such as; lynx, waldo county trans, coastal trans etc… However these agencies require 48 hour notice for a ride and rides to stores are pre-schedule and don’t always coincide with when prescription can be refilled (as many prescription can’t be refilled until you are almost out anymore due to insurance reasons). Also what about transportation to and from work — people have to work to 67 or in some cases 70 in order to draw full benefits. A real bus transportation system with regular scheduled routes would better serve people that need transportation on a more regular basis and don’t only leave their homes every other Tuesday for a doctors appointment. Heaven forbid they want to go to the YMCA and exercise or socialize.
Besides public transportation there are also free services for the elderly and handicapped that will drive people to their appointments etc, almost every county has some program like this.
Thank you for speaking out. Many are just busybodies, But sometimes we have to speak out. That sounded to be one of those times.
As an aside, I wonder how, with relatively minor injuries for the adults, a child properly fastened child in a car seat, could die from this.
My sympathies to the little girl’s survivors. :(
the van was hit extremely hard, forcing the rear of the vehicle into the back seat
I drove by the scene of the crash, there was nothing left of the rear half of the van-nothing. It’s hard to imagine that the pick up that hit it was going anything less than 55 judging by the damage. Absolutely heart-rending, anyone who got to tuck all their kids in bed last night were truly lucky.
I do not know how old you are but 50 is hardly an age where people are slow or sickly! Over 65 maybe, but 50? Sounds a bit extreme! Are you using dog years?
Hahaha @ “dog years”
The State of Maine DID require drivers to take a driving test at 72. I remember well, because my Grandfather said it was the 1st driving test he ever took. The State did away with it quickly, saying it was age discrimination. I believe this was in 1977.
there was a fatal accident involving a 21 year old who is a marine, should we test all 21 year old marines? If some people were p-i-s-s-e-d at you it is more than likely due to your ignorance which is displayed plain as day.
to the family of the four year old baby I am so sorry.
I believe I read that alcohol was an issue with that accident with the marine. No doubt he will be punished by the law and the military as he should.
With your creative syntax, spelling and grammar, you’re hardly going to make a convincing argument for the youth of America.
Holy smokes…where did you learn to spell (or NOT spell!!)??
/facepalm
Why are you harping on the age factor? Teens and young adults have been in the news recently more than maturing adult drivers. And why? More times than not because of “distracted” driving. We’ll leave the drugs and alcohol alone for this discussion. I would bet that when it’s all said and done that the driver was distracted (“(he) did not see the van had stopped”). Right along with substance abuse, I would put distracted driving as the number one risk factor on the roads today.
so awful…I feel bad for the little girls family
So very sad. Condolences to this little girls family. Heaven just recieved a very special angel.
Awww so sad=( so many accidents an peopleslives being taken epecially kids=( just awful
Very sad headline. My heart goes out to the family.
There really needs to be some kind of safety measures/testing, to make sure the elderly have the vision, reflexes, cognitive ability to drive. WAGM news stated the driver said he did not see the van…..could have been prevented, plus I cannot imagine how this elderly driver feels knowing that he caused the death of a little girl. My condolences to all involved. Tragic,
Wow! It is very scary on the roadways when people can’t even see you. How so you not see a vehicle in front of you in your lane? My day could come anytime the way people drive nowadays.
I don’t mean to add to this man’s grief, but there’s a child robbed of her life here. This highway is wide, arrow straight, and it was a beautiful, clear, sunny day today… so how do you NOT see something the size of a mini van stopped in front of you? It doesn’t appear that he hit the brakes, or even attempted to avoid hitting the van? Looks like he rear ended it, straight on, at 55mph? My thoughts and prayers are with this family, and especially that little girl. So sad.
maybe he was texting
Oh my heart sank…this poor family, my deepest condolences.
As sad as this and all the recent accidents with fatalities lately is, I must comment on the age issue. Age 50 is not ‘elderly’, it is middle age, and my driving skills were as good as or better than when I was 25. Age 62 now and still feel the same. The ‘senior discounts’ have started which helps me get my morning coffee before I go to work…yes, work…If I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t work.
I know that being 20 something seems a long way from 50, but think twice before you write all of us off as feeble,dimwitted, past prime, nursing home bound citizens.
Age affects us all differently. At that man’s age, my grandfather was legally blind and could not drive. I’ve seen 80 year olds that are more fit than 50 year olds, etc. The elderly seem to be as great a threat to our safety on the roads as the young people that ride around and text/change clothes/fiddle with iPods. The different being that youngsters grow out of it and old people grow into it. One is a much easier transition than the other. My dad is in his 60’s and he is a very good driver. However, his reflexes probably are not as good as they were at 30 or 40.
I don’t think we need to test drivers over 50 (though maybe vision?), but certainly once they reach retirement age (67-70) it’s a good thing to do. No one wants to give up their independence, but I don’t think anyone wants to see a four year old dead, either.
Vision screening is done for everyone upon their first license renewal after the age of 40 and then every second renewal thereafter until the age of 62, then it’s every renewal.
I agree 50 is not “elderly”… However, and with all do respect, there is a reason you don’t see any professional athletes or race car drivers in their 60’s. It’s not because they don’t possess the knowledge, or the desire to perform… but their functioning abilities, reflexes and eyesight are simply not what they once were. People aren’t suggesting that we put anyone out to pasture, but the amount of fatal auto accidents involving drivers over 70 years old have increased recently at an alarming rate, and perhaps it’s time to start testing driver’s periodically in their late 60’s, and more frequently in their 70’s and 80’s. It’s not to punish or embarrass them, but to save lives…. possibly their own.
Their are plenty of guys who race at the professional level who are over 60. even a few in top tear series like NASCARs Nationwide series. Morgan Shepard runs regularly in this series. I love this guy…He’s racing for Jesus. So don’t write off all of us over 50 just yet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_Shepherd
Morgan was a great driver, and even competed in the cup series… but he’s not there anymore, and there’s a reason for that. When was the last time Morgan won a race? I’m not writing anyone off…. just stating a fact. Mother Nature, and Father Time get us all in the end, and in this instance, it would appear this man may not have been entirely focused on what was going on around him… it’s tragedy in the truest sense of the word.
also, why are you just considering the age factor? Teens and young adults have been in the news recently more than maturing adult drivers. And why? More times than not because of “distracted” driving. We’ll leave the drugs and alcohol alone for this discussion. I would bet that when it’s all said and done that the driver was distracted (“(he) did not see the van had stopped”). Right along with substance abuse, I would put distracted driving as the number one risk factor on the roads today.
God Bless the LITTLE ANGEL he called home early. I pray for her family to understand and not become angry. RIP Little one.
50? That is ridiculous! I’m only 30 and if you tell me I can only drive for 20 more years…you.are.insane!
Yes! Thanks I could not remember the name of it. It seems like a pretty good service.
God please bless this child and please comfort her grieving loved ones. I wish everyone would be careful and drive as if lives depended on it. They do! I have children and grandchildren on these roads and I pray for their good judgement and safety.
My condolences to the little girl’s family. This is truly a sad situation. HOW do you not see a van in FRONT of you? Are you looking BEHIND you????? Sorry, but come on!!!!
I live on this road and every night as I try to make a left hand turn into my driveway I do NOT take my eye off my rear view mirror. I, too, have come sooo close to having this happen, more times than I can count. My blinker is on way before I attempt the turn. I have seen people looking at their passenger, on cell phones, you know the distractions. Looking totally away from what is in front of them. The other thing is you are being passed on the RIGHT (which is illegal) in the break down lane at no less than 65 mph. This is NOT a passing lane. I have complained numerous times….. now this……
I find that people drive a little too fast on this stretch of road…even in the winter :-(
Anyone remember the days when we DROVE our vehicles and worried about DRIVING the vehicles while in said vehicle? Remember the days when most of us had respect for the vehicle and the vehicles around us? Remember when most of us paid attention to our surroundings with little inside the vehicle or on ourselves taking away from that attention?
Today, with the eating, drinking, texting, phone calls, computer notepads, reading newspapers, putting on makeup, changing clothes (yes, I have witnessed) enjoying the view from your driver’s side window while you daydream about it, sleeping (or falling asleep) – how have any of us survived?
In regard to the age debate, this is one of my favs:http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/02/10/news/bangor/driver-narrowly-avoids-head-on-collision-with-vehicle-going-wrong-way-on-i-95/
hi all.. I can understand and have some of the same feelings and questions you all have. BUT PLEASE PLEASE don’t dwell on the why or what or how’s. The truth is two families have been changed for life and a baby has lost her life. Let the family of this angel grieve in peace and let the driver come to grips with what has happened. I can almost 100% say… this is not how he seen his afternoon turning out to be. He is hurting as well. All it takes is a few seconds of not paying attention and this could be you or I.
Rip little angel.. fly high and soar with the eagles.
This breaks my heart. My sincere condolences to the friends and family of the little girl whose life was taken today. Special prayers for her mother :(
My heartfelt thoughts, prayers and tears are with everybody involved in this tragedy. Gut wrenching.
My father was the one who gave CPR to this little girl. When he called me, I was so grief stricken. My condolences go out to this girl’s family. My dad was so upset. :(
I am so sorry that this precious child has lost her life. My heart is with her family. My heart is also with the man that struck them. I cannot imagine what he is feeling right now. It is called an accident for a reason, it could happen to any of us. I hope time will heal all the hurting hearts.
So sorry to the family of the 4 year old. Having a 3 children of my own, one a 4 year old daughter, I could not imagine what you might be gong through. Except that it is every parents worse nightmare! RIP Baby Girl!
RIP little one, my thoughts are with her family.
No comments about age speed distractcted drivers> just tears for a young child who is gone and a family who has now been changed forever. R.I.P. little one. and may your family find the strength to get through this.
Regardless of the age of the driver, the focus needs to be on a family who has lost a precious baby girl. Let this be a reminder never to take life for granted. My prayers are with the family. I know this accident has reminded me to never take my eyes off the road for one second; it is in that one second that a life can change forever.
It’s sad that some of the postings want to immediately assume blame on someone. There could be several factors associated with this terrible tragedy. For example, did it occur in a construction zone (example dust in the air obscuring one’s vision, or perhaps the sun). There’s a reason these type of reports ends with, “The investigation is ongoing”. Because NOT ALL THE FACTS are available yet. Please keep this in mind. My sincere condolences to the family of this young lady. I can’t even imagine what it would feel like to lose one of your own : (
Not mentioned in the news story was whether the child had been securely belted in a child safety seat. Nor was the use of seat belts mentioned. Are we missing the chance to save lives by not noting these matters? It is quite possible that all occupants of the struck vehicle were using available safety devices. And then again, perhaps not. But that is a part of the story as much as the speed of vehicles at impact, the disposition of vehicles after the accident, and so on. That should be considered part of the reporters obligation to inform the public.
I sure hope he wasn’t on his cell phone……………………devastating thing for everyone involved.
I am not a supporter of those cars that have seats way in the back and nothing but the back window behind them………..Had the same type of accident in our family………….two babies way in back…………both escaped injuries ………………..