EDDINGTON, Maine — State police Friday afternoon released the names of the two victims of Thursday morning’s fatal crash in Eddington.
Michael J. Sullivan, 37, of Eddington, and his passenger, 52-year-old Susan R. Derrico of Eddington, were killed after the black Isuzu Rodeo that Sullivan was driving went off the side of Route 9 around 12:30 a.m., hit some small trees, went airborne twice and then crashed into a large tree, according to police.
“Both occupants of the vehicle were killed instantly from massive blunt force trauma,” Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said Friday afternoon.
Police continue to investigate what caused the crash, “but the ultimate answer [is] we may never know,” McCausland said.
There were no skid marks at the scene and no witnesses to the crash to help investigators determine what happened, he said. Police are awaiting the results of blood-alcohol tests, but results aren’t expected for a couple of weeks.
“[Investigators] were looking at the driver falling asleep as a possibility, based on the lack of skid marks,” McCausland said.
Sullivan was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, he said.
The vehicle was registered to Derrico, who was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The state’s highway death toll this year now stands at 120, according to McCausland. Citing Bureau of Highway Safety statistics, he said 20 of those highway deaths were motorcyclists.
In addition to the fatal crash in Eddington this week, a 16-year-old high school student from Stockton Springs died when his car slammed into a dump truck in Prospect on Wednesday morning.
May you rest in peace Sue, say hello to heaven.
Very sad.
My prayers to all of the family and friends these two people have left behind. God Bless
Rest in peace, sweet Sue. What a beautiful soul. Suzi and I are so sad, but we can’t forget your laugh and spirit. We are so glad to have shared your friendship. xoxox
And the State needs to pay for a blood alcohol test why? They are DEAD. No one else was involved, and there is no useful purpose for spending (wasting) State funds.
Mark…because a passenger was killed. If you were a loved one of the passenger killed you would want answers to how the driver crashed the car. This is why a blood alcohol test was conducted.
Sue, I had a feeling it was you when i heard the news, seems like we were Just standing there chatting by the Map case at the office. It will be weird not seeing you around town. You were one of my first Hairdressers and had the same crazy natural curls i did, so you “Got Me”. RIP Girl!