CARIBOU, Maine — One man is dead and another is in a Bangor hospital with critical injuries after an early morning accident in Caribou.
The accident that killed Wayne Carter, 36, of Caribou took place just after 4 a.m., Caribou police said Monday.
Carter was southbound on River Road in his 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit when the vehicle left the roadway and rolled over. Police said Carter was driving “at a high rate of speed.”
Carter and passenger Patrick Strainge, 21, of Stockholm were ejected from the vehicle. They were not wearing seat belts.
A third passenger, 19-year-old Shawn Holmquist of Caribou, was wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident and suffered only minor injuries.
Carter was dead at the scene. Strainge was taken by Caribou Fire and Ambulance to Cary Medical Center and then flown to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor with extensive injuries. Holmquist was treated at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation, but police said Monday that speed and the driver’s and passenger’s decisions not to wear seat belts were major factors in the outcome of the crash.
Caribou police Officers Keith Ouellette and Jay Trainer were assisted at the scene by Caribou police Officer Jason Matheson and the Aroostook Sheriff’s Department.
Good decision on your part, Shawn Holmquist. Most of the time seat belts save lives and reduce injuries.
My thoughts and prayers are with both families. Hang in there Pat and hoping for a speedy recovery
Prayers for all those involved in this tragedy. Such a sad thing
So sad I know Wayne has a young son not sure if he has more than 1 child. I feel bad for the family and hope they can get thru this. If you have kids you should drive like you need to be there for them as its not fair to grow up without a mom or dad.
such a tragedy..thoughts and prayers go out the both familys.
This is such a tragedy. I knew Wayne. A great person, loving father, wonderful friend. My heart is heavy for all the lives that will miss his presence greatly. Prayers of comfort to them and for Pat’s recovery and Shawn’s too after such a horrific accident.
It’s unfortunate this happened, but when will people learn that Seat Belts Save Lives! Most highway deaths occur when people get thrown from the vehicle on impact; wearing a seat belt and having a vehicle equipped with air bags gets a thumbs up.
Not wearing seat belts so very sad.
I have read the comment “if only they had been wearing their seat belts” If they were NOT traveling at a “HIGH RATE OF SPEED.” There would be NO accident. The police reports says cause of accident “HIGH RATE OF SPEED” Seat belt or no seat belt as curvy as that road is you DON’T drive at a ”
HIGH RATE OF SPEED” People have been killed on that road before because of speed and alcohol.
I have known people that were killed because of their seat belt. A seat belt will save you life depending on what kind of accident just like air bags. some lives are saved and other are killed.
If you are going to travel at a high rate of speed it is best to wear a seat belt. One man is at home tonight with minor injuries because he choose to buckle up. If the other two had done the same they most likely would be home as well.
Yes, this accident is a strong endorsement for wearing seat belts.
I have posted this before and will post it again. I walked away from this rollover because I had on my seatbelt. Rolled a 1992 Ford Explore at 70mph 3 1/2 times. Even went end over end at one point but I walked away because I was belted in.
I still have a few scars on my right hand because of the flying glass. The SUV came down on the driver side and yes, I was in error. I was 22 when this accident took place. That was 20 years ago.
http://i.imgur.com/eOkjr.jpg
You are correct. If the car had not been traveling at a high rate of speed, there either would have been no accident, or a much less severe accident. The driver is the only one who can make the decision as to how fast to drive though. The passengers of a vehicle has absolutely no control over what the driver does. What the passenger CAN DO though, is make the decision to buckle up, and increase their chances of survival, if the driver chooses to drive at a high rate of speed.
Do you wear a seat belt?
Having lost a child to a traffic accident I can’t begin to tell you how making coments such as some of these are doesn’t help anyone feel at all better. It make the parents and his loved ones grieve wondering if this could have been avoided. Thankfully I didn’t have to go through commetns about using seat belts and speeding. Have a heart and think how you would feel if this was your child, father, husband…… There is no greater loss and comments will never bring their child back.
Passengers should also demand to be let out of the car. Then never ride with that driver again, ever. Better to walk a few miles than to be in the accident.
You have to assume that the person driving is willing to stop when a passenger demands to get out. Depending on circumstances (alcohol, drugs, arrogance, etc), the driver may not stop, no matter what the passenger demands.
I have no knowledge of this specific case, just responding to what missgrundy has said.
That’s right, Jemieesmom, but it should be tried. If the driver won’t let the passengers out, all they can do is put on the seat belts and keep insisting the driver stop or slow down.
Oh yes! Please try!! I wasn’t saying you shouldn’t, just saying that it may not be possible to get out, no matter how badly you may want to.
Do you have info as to the driver speeding and not letting the any of the passengers out??
May the family and friends of the families involved embrace one another and get through this tragedy. May the rest of us remember that nothing good comes out of speeding and/or drunk driving. Hopefully, this young man’s death will save some lives through public awareness.
May the loss of this young man’s life raise public awareness for speeding, wearing seat belts and drunk driving. Prayers are with Mr. Carter’s surviving son and family, the two accident survivors and their families.
It doesn’t say anything about drunk driving!
I think Caribou Mom is drunk and can’t read the article correctly. Stop spreading rumors Caribou Mom!
The article says nothing about drunk driving!
In no way does this article even suggest drunk driving was even considered. For respect out of the families left behind – Please keep the rumors and whatnot to yourself.
The main issue is there is an 8 year old who has no Daddy, A set of parents sitting by a bed praying for the safe return of a child to what he was before this happened, and another who is safe with his friends and family. This is not the forum for people to point blame, or try and say who was doing what or what they should have been doing. I feel bad for the loss of a friend, a family member, and so much more. Prayers to all of you!
redcuppy, you make a very good point!! I wish more people saw it this way.
Wow, I can”t believe some of you inconsiderate people. Really?! Think about the family before you speak. Maybe they were speeding but it doesn’t mean you have to be a heartless person and make the family feel even worse. Sorry but if you can sit here and write stuff like this, you should feel really low about yourself. My prayers go out to the Carter family. Pat man i know you and i know you will get through this. I cant wait to see that smile of yours soon!!
Not sure why this has turned into a “seatbelt debate” – the whole point of the article was to inform people that there was an accident in which a father lost his life….a son is laying in a hospital in serious condition and another is by the grace of God okay (physically). If they choose to not wear a sealbelt that was their choice and if by chance they got into the accident then they knew the risk they where taking but now that the worse case has happened it is NOT our place to be saying such things that some of us are saying. I think we need to focus of the families of these people and give support and prayers not “oh they should have worn a seatbelt” come on people thats not the point, Im pretty sure everyone who said they should have worn their seat belt has at one point or another -not worn their seat belt. Nobody really knows what happened in this accident so we can not judge as we where not there. Thoughts and prayers going out to Wayne, Pat, and Shawns familys. Praying that Pat recovers so he can come home again and be with the great ammount of people who care for him, and praying that Shawn can recover mentally from this situation nothing worse then being in an accident when you walk away where one is dead and one is in serious condition. Love to all. <3
“If they choose to not wear a sealbelt that was their choice….” Unfortunately people make bad choices. That is why we have laws – to protect those who fail to protect themselves, and to protect us from bad choices made by others. There were more than a few bad choices here, and violations of the law – speeding, not wearing seat belts, and maybe others. Two people paid a very high price for these bad choices, and many family, friends, and the community, are paying a price as well. I hope for the best for all involved.
Exactly. It’s the news and fair comment. The comment feature isn’t intended to be limited to expressions of sorrow when the news article is about motorists and passengers killed in accidents.
Prayers are with all familys no doubt! Outside of the seat belt issue someone was speeding and lost control of the vehicle. Imagine now if they hit another vehicle after losing control. I think not wearing a seatbelt is your decision but you will be critisized in any forum if you do get into an accident causing death or severe injury. The article clearly states that the 2 who didn’t wear a seat belt are paying a much higher price than the 1 who did. Sorry if you don’t like to hear it point blank but it is what it is.
I dont have a problem with people saying what they need to say but I dont believe that it should be a big debate on seat belts ….. they dont always save lives and thats coming from some one who personally knows some one who passed away in a accident and WAS wearing their seat belt. The media just usually doesnt mention when they do wear their seat belts and die….cause heaven forbid if news got out that they dont always save lives….. but the whole point of my first commennt was that people should see the bigger issue here weither they wore seat belts or not.
So the oldest in the group showed the least amount of maturity and was killed (and killed someone else), while the youngest in the group was smart and is alive w/ only minor injuries.
There is hope for the younger generation after all.
Only one person was killed. I think it is ignorant of you to say such a thing. Unless you knew Wayne and the type of person he was, he was the one who always made sure you had a seatbelt on. We all have had a lapse in judgement before, so on behalf of myself, friends and family of this GREAT man, your comments are not productive nor needed. A little boy lost his father, his hero and his world. So offer your prayers for those suffering, if that is asking to much. DONT SAY ANYTHING! The community is dealing with a large loss.