WINSLOW, Maine — Two Winslow High School students died Friday night when the car they were in crashed head-on into a taxicab.
According to the Winslow Police Department, a vehicle being driven by Scott Loisel, 16, of Winslow was traveling south on the South Reynolds Road at a high rate of speed at 11 p.m. when it crested a hill, got into the dirt shoulder on the right-hand side of the road, veered into the oncoming lane and struck the taxicab head-on.
Loisel and his passenger, Alexandria Ferland, 16, of Vassalboro, died at the scene, according to police.
The speed limit is 40 miles per hour on that stretch of road and Loisel’s vehicle was going an estimated 70 mph.
Loisel’s vehicle came to rest on its roof. The teens were partially ejected from the vehicle, according to police. They were not wearing seat belts.
The vehicle’s engine area was on fire, but quickly extinguished by Winslow police Lt. Josh Veilleux, who responded to the crash along with Officer Damon Lefferts, who is the leading investigating officer.
The southbound vehicle was an Elm City taxicab, driven by Jamie Howard, 36, of Waterville. She had two passengers, David Green Jr., 41, of Belgrade, who was in a rear seat, and Brian Roy 43, of Winslow, who was in the front passenger seat.
Howard and Green were transported to the Thayer campus of Maine General Medical Center in Waterville. Roy was transported to Inland Hospital in Waterville and then transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. All three are in stable condition, according to police.
The road was shut down for several hours as the accident was reconstructed by Sgt. Mike
Pion from Kennebec Sheriffs Department.
Officers from the Waterville Police Department and the Kennebec Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene. The Winslow Fire/Rescue Department, Delta Ambulance, Waterville Fire and Fairfield Fire departments assisted as well.
The South Reynolds Road is located off the China Road.
Counselors were available at the school on Saturday.
Winslow High School has a student enrollment of 480.
I hope that you know this for a fact and not just assuming! Last time people assumed a death in an accident was from texting it wasnt. My heart goes out to the teens parents.
My heartfelt condolence to not just the teens parents but also their entire families and friends of two innocent lost lives. It is always a tragedy when young people lose their lives and will not able to go on but hopefully teach other young people to learn a lesson from this tragedy no matter what the cause of this accident is. It is irrelevant whether these teens were texting, speeding or just distracted because young teens all think this could never happen to them when in fact everyone could be 1 breath before death no matter what age they are. This is why they call them accidents because no matter the cause it is still just an accident. RIP and may your families heal as soon as they can from what is the worst tragedy of their lives.
How tragic. Two lives lost before they have even started, and the heartache that follows…
No matter what the cause… It is tragic!
Actually, according to the online sentinel it was actually caused by driving too fast. Don’t assume. This is so sad though :( My thoughts go out to the family!
What a tragic night for so many involved. My heart breaks for the parents of these two teens. Randal, please consider the families involved and keep your accusations to yourself. Even if you have some inside knowledge (doubtful), it’s not your place to “inform” everyone. To me, this sounds like speed and lack of driving experience, and that’s all.
it is always my job to inform
It is okay to inform (aka in this case gossip) if the information is correct after a full investigation.
Randall, I hope you are not related to Kathy…she wouldn’t approve…and so, you mysawell go to the mill stone store and pick one out, for you are offending more that the posters or those children’s families.
In order to inform, the first thing you need is a bit of factual evidence. Maybe you should try to understand what that is.
You’re as sharp as Randall. Is that the best you have is no one should be texting and driving….really you’re kidding? This kid was driving too fast as the article states which most of us are guilty of at one time or another and he paid the ultimate price and you are spewing about texting.
Some how I doubt the boy was texting…. probably trying to show off to his girl how fast his chariot is or trying to get home before curfew……”Loisel’s vehicle came to rest on its roof. The teens were partially ejected from the vehicle, according to police. They were not wearing seat belts.”
Regardless, it is terribly tragic!
inexperienced driver going way to fast. and only 16 years old It’s tragic
Condolences to everyone involved. Sad.
So terrible, my heart goes out to their families.
My heartfelt condolences to the families and friends left behind. Please, kids, don’t think you can handle speeds greater than the ones posted. You just don’t realize sometimes that roads are engineered for slower speeds and wicked curves are designed to go around trees etc. It’s not a sign of weakness if you drive at the posted limits. It’s a sign of maturity to know your friends’ parents can trust you at the wheel with their precious child beside you.
Driving approx. 70 mph in a 40 mph zone @ 16 years of age and a resultant tragedy for 2 families, friends and communities…..condolences to all……
A couple of thoughts: One – are they not supposed to be driving that late that night if they are that young? Two – If they are under a certain age, are they not supposed to be driving with unrelated people in the car. This was an avoidable accident.
A million people die in car crashes every year on this globe, there is a better way to live but politically backed financial interests will stand in the way to protect what they think belongs to them so we can only look out for ourselves. Move close to where you work, walk to work, figure out a way to get groceries, give up the car addiction
It is sad but come on – high school kids should not be driving cars, there is a lesson to be learned here but it never works. Even a podunk state like Maine is civilized enough to get to the point where people of any age don’t have to use cars. Anything under five miles is walkable in an hour and there is also the bicycle option. Wake up
Wow. Huh? Boy. Good thing that absolutely no one in Maine lives rural, is disabled, elderly or have trouble walking. 12 minute miles is what a middle aged man jogs.
First of all.. the nearest grocery store is 15 miles away from me. Secondly.. I’m buying groceries for 6 people. I am supposed to walk (or ride a bike) to get to the grocery store and somehow balance all those groceries on the way home?? And lets assume that I did have a grocery store within 5 miles. When my kids were 2 & 3 and 5 yo was I supposed to make them walk the 5 miles as well?
I have no idea where you live.. but in MOST of Maine there is absolutely no public transportation and no taxis. I am totally baffled by your comment.
There is nothing wrong with a high school kid driving… just not this high school kid. The shame is that he was speeding and that they were both not wearing their seatbelts. That’s what killed them. Not being 16 yo.
Hence WhaleFarts’ very “solid”, concise and deserved response to the poster, “Whack Job.”!
Trust me being 16 you fall for peer pressure . Frontal lobes are not fully developed to make rational choices yet . Not all 16yrs are bad drivers but more likely to take risk even good kids from good families .
Why yes, I would be absolutely delighted to ride my bike 12 miles to school at 6 in the morning, through snow and rain. Not to mention 30 pounds of textbooks and my sports equipment.
But seeing as adults are just as reckless at driving as most teenagers, I would probably get hit by a car going 60mph, and it would be my fault, because the kind 40-somethings who spend their afternoon making daft comments about teenagers dying would say I was texting while cyclng, or that I should’ve been wearing a helmet.
16 ? Should she even been in the car??
I believe that teens need to be licensed for 6 months before they can have minor passengers, only exception being siblings.
Pathetic that you are trying to make a joke out of an extremely sad situation.
You are very wrong.
I am in no way trying to make a joke , in any manner, out
of this situation.
How could anyone possibly come to that conclusion??
how could one not? sometimes its better to just shut up after you write a comment that people think are wrong, may be your time to do that like Randall
Put a simple-to-install ‘Go-Track’ GPS in the car your kid drives and see how fast they are going. You bet I do it with our kids.
This makes me very sad as I reflect on my time in my car at the age of 16 with my 14 year old girlfriend with me, who I am still friends with 40 years later. My heart and prayers to the families and friends of both kids. And I hope that this can be an awakening for every other new and young driver in my home state.
“The road was shut down for several hours as the accident was reconstructed by Sgt. Mike Pion from Kennebec Sheriffs Department.”
You’ve got this wrong. Driving 30 mph over the speed limit is not an “accident”.
It is an accident because the taxi and its passengers were not speeding. But also because a 16 year old thinks they are indestructible so speeding by them caused an accident. Also let’s be nice and the family and friends of all the people involved have suffered enough pain and they don’t need to be bashed by negative comments.
Randall, I beg of you to stop being facetious. You obviously get some kind of amusement out of the pain of others. But, I implore you to take it elsewhere. I don’t remember reading anywhere that Randall Flagg was in the backseat– therefore, you don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re making assumptions. And you know what? Maybe he was texting. Maybe he wasn’t. Either way, neither of them are around to learn their lesson about seat belts or speeding or texting while driving. What IS left of this mess is two very broken families and a lot of pain.
Now, judging from your clear disregard for others and lack of empathy I’m going to go ahead and assume (oh, hey- I can do that too, can’t I?) that you’ve never lost anyone close to you. But, if you had, you’d realize that what they’re going through is absolutely heart-wrenching.
The families and friends of Allie and Bucky are incredible people and they’re going through hell and back right now. I happen to know that because Allie’s older sister and Bucky’s best friend (who might as well have been family)’s older sister have been two of my best friends for years and I’ve come to know their families over the better portion of my life. And, you know what, Randall? I’m not sure if they’re reading these. But, I know that if I were in their shoes, I would be. Because when you’re that broken, it takes a community to pick you up and maybe they will come here looking for a little bit of kindness or support and I’ll be damned if I am going to let them read one of your ignorant, self-indulgent comments without a fight.
Have a heart.
Or better yet, get a life.
You clearly don’t know Allie or Bucky or their families.
So, unless you’re here to say “rest in peace” or “I’m sorry”, why don’t you go troll somewhere else on the internet?
JoAnna – some people like to post such things for the same way others vandalize. It’s a way of getting attention which makes them feel like somebody.
Amen to that! Best comment I’ve heard in a long time!
My condolences to the families of these young people. My family dealt with this same situation last year at this time and we are still feeling the void that our loved ones left…….to the people here who decided to grab a soapbox and spew their holyer then thou crap….Does it take you 2 hours to watch 60 minutes?????/..are you that stupid and ignorant that you have to run your yaps where family and friends of the deceased will see it….your the lowest form of scumbags that walk the earth!!!!
As i sit and read al the ignorant and studid comments of this article i am down right disgusted. I got my first phone call at 5 am this morning. I am not related to the two teenagers that lives are gone forever but am related to one of the accident victims. I have spent most of my day on the road. I live in Houlton maine. To see such childish behavior in adults when there are at least two families that have to bury thier children in a few days and another family member of the accident victim in critical condition at Maine Med as i write this whis happens to be the father of my two wonderful daughters i think you all should stop and think who reads the comments. This is a terrible terrible tragic accident that yes could have been prevented but it wasnt. Maybe the rude crude and direspectful comments, accusations and what ever the hell else you people choose to post should stop and for just one second think of all the parties involved. Thank you for all thos have have said supportive comments. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Lord knows we sure do need them.
As i sit and read al the ignorant and studid comments of this article i am down right disgusted. I got my first phone call at 5 am this morning. I am not related to the two teenagers that lives are gone forever but am related to one of the accident victims. I have spent most of my day on the road. I live in Houlton maine. To see such childish behavior in adults when there are at least two families that have to bury thier children in a few days and another family member of the accident victim in critical condition at Maine Med as i write this whis happens to be the father of my two wonderful daughters i think you all should stop and think who reads the comments. This is a terrible terrible tragic accident that yes could have been prevented but it wasnt. Maybe the rude crude and direspectful comments, accusations and what ever the hell else you people choose to post should stop and for just one second think of all the parties involved. Thank you for all thos have have said supportive comments. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Lord knows we sure do need them
As i sit and read al the ignorant and studid comments of this article i am down right disgusted. I got my first phone call at 5 am this morning. I am not related to the two teenagers that lives are gone forever but am related to one of the accident victims. I have spent most of my day on the road. I live in Houlton maine. To see such childish behavior in adults when there are at least two families that have to bury thier children in a few days and another family member of the accident victim in critical condition at Maine Med as i write this whis happens to be the father of my two wonderful daughters i think you all should stop and think who reads the comments. This is a terrible terrible tragic accident that yes could have been prevented but it wasnt. Maybe the rude crude and direspectful comments, accusations and what ever the hell else you people choose to post should stop and for just one second think of all the parties involved. Thank you for all thos have have said supportive comments. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Lord knows we sure do need them
they could have easily killed other people.
you people who keep glorifying bad drivers, you think maybe that you may actually be ‘encouraging’ young drivers to drive restlessly even more? the teenage mind loves the idea of being a legend
My heartfelt condolences to all of the families involved in this tragic accident. I cannot even begin to imagine the absolute agony that the parents of these children are going through. This should remind everyone to hug their loved ones a little tighter and be so grateful to be able to do so. May the both of you rest in peace. Wishing the injured a speedy recovery and thoughts go out to their loved ones during this difficult time as well.
My heartfelt condolences to all of the families involved in this tragic accident. I cannot even begin to imagine the absolute agony that the parents of these children are going through. This should remind everyone to hug their loved ones a little tighter and be so grateful to be able to do so. May the both of you rest in peace. Wishing the injured a speedy recovery and thoughts go out to their loved ones during this difficult time as well.
I think this comment session should be ended there are too many people that do not respect the victims reguardless of the facts. The media should be a little more discresinate in their opening of these articles to opinion.
Attention Parents of Teens:
This very, very tragic loss comes right at the same time I just received my monthly AAA magazine, in which there is an excellent article, the Teen Brain: A Work in Progress. Here’s a link
http://www.northernnewengland.aaa.com/new-england-journey/2012/11-12/Pages/teen-brain-a-work-in-progress.aspx
Please, please take the time to read it. Though my own children are grown, I read it and learned so much about why we keep losing these vibrant, smart kids and how we, as a society, owe it to them to prevent more losses.
Speeding — not wearing seat belts.
So sad. So unnecessary.
Even if none of my buddies at the loading dock wore seat belts because they are the best drivers in the world, I’d still want to wear one because someone might come around a corner or over a hill and clobber me head on.
They couldn’t call you a wimp if you told them you were wearing yours to protect yourself against the other guy.
The humble Farmer
Sad that some people seem to revel in the suffering of others. I think the known facts speak for themselves. It’s a horrific tragedy for anyone living through it, and those who died. If anything positive can come of it, it’ll be that others that age simply stop and take a look at what they’re doing, before they do it.
Why let 16 year olds drive? So sad. At that age there frontal lobes are not developed and subject to peer pressure even good kids . I did not grow a brain till almost 30 myself . 16 is just way to young.
Apparently it’s still trying to grow.
My deepest condolences to the families and friends of these two young people. Your loss and your pain go beyond words.
To the friends of these two kids reading this, as you attend the funerals of your friends, watch their parents and siblings. Is this what you want for your own family?? No?? Then learn from this heartwrenching tragedy. Drive at the speed limit. And please wear your seat belts.
This two young people were partially ejected. From my years of experience in the ER, this is not a pretty sight. I am sorry to the family and friends for reminding readers of this fact, but it is in the hope, that one or more kids will think about this and wear their seat belts. There is no solid reason for not buckling up. Argue if you want about seat belts being the cause of death sometimes. Look at the statistics. Far more lives are saved by wearing them than not wearing them. I can testify to this personally. I was in a roll over where my seat belt kept me in the car and I walked away with minor injuries. I can’t say that would have been the case here, because I did not see the accident or its aftermath, but I do know these families will probably always wonder if their kids might have survived if they wore their seat belts. How many of you would like to leave your families wondering if you could have lived?
I knew another 16 year old who was killed in an accident and from the police going to the door to notify his parents to and through his funeral, and even up until this moment, I see the pain his Mom suffers because her youngest went out with friends and never came home.
Again, I beg the forgiveness of the families for using this occasion to compound your pain but I have seen this up close and personally. I hope to spare another family your agony, especially since I cannot spare you from what you are going through now.