WINDSOR, Maine — Police say it appears drugs and erratic driving led to a three-vehicle crash in Windsor that killed a 28-year-old man and left a 17-year-old girl with life-threatening injuries Thursday morning, according to the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department.
As flames spread through one of the vehicles, police broke the rear window to rescue the girl, who was pinned inside.
The department is withholding the name of the deceased man until his family is notified, according to a department press release. The name of the 17-year-old also was not released because she is a juvenile.
Police received reports around 10:30 a.m. of a serious crash on Route 17 in Windsor. Emergency crews arrived to find three severely damaged vehicles.
Before the crash, a red 1989 Buick Reatta was reported to be speeding through Route 17 traffic, passing vehicles in the breakdown lane. The car, which was traveling north, eventually struck a van heading in the same direction, pushing the van into oncoming traffic, where it was struck head-on by a Toyota Highlander.
“The Reatta received significant front damage resulting in the immediate death of the male operator and serious life-threatening injuries to the 17-year-old girl,” Sheriff Randall Liberty said in a press release.
Deputy Jeremy Day and Sgt. Scott Mills, along with members of the Windsor Fire Department, arrived on the scene to find the Reatta partially on fire with the girl trapped inside. After breaking the window, “Deputy Day extinguished the flames with his hands and arms while others extinguished the flames with fire extinguishers,” said Liberty.
The girl was freed from the wreckage and taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston by LifeFlight helicopter. She suffered serious abdominal and leg injuries, according to the sheriff.
Day suffered minor burns and cuts, Liberty said.
Occupants of the van and the Toyota — Richard and Peggy Newcombe and James Tasse — were taken to the hospital by ambulance. The press release does not state which victims were in which vehicle. Peggy Newcombe was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Richard Newcombe was initially taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta before being transferred to CMMC.
Liberty said Thursday evening that he didn’t know their conditions.
“The initial investigation has revealed that drugs, erratic operation and speed are causation factors in this accident,” Liberty said. “Citizen reports of erratic operation prior to the accident demonstrate complete disregard for public safety. This was an unnecessary, tragic loss of life. I’m confident that the bravery of the deputies and firefighters in this incident saved the young girl’s life.”
Tragic accidents on Maine’s highways have been injuring & claiming many lives lately…..very sadly so……
This is especially tragic, because it was totally preventable.
“Before the crash, a red 1989 Buick Reatta was reported to be speeding through Route 17 traffic, passing vehicles in the breakdown lane.”
I just attended a training seminar put on by the state of Maine. The instructor stated passing on the right is legal as long as your tires don’t leave the pavement.
Under what circumstances is that legal- a vehicle is making a left turn, so you pass them on the right? Or, traffic is going the speed limit, and someone passes on the right?
Granted, this article doesn’t say which of the two scenarios it was, but I’m going to take a guess (based on the other references to reckless driving), that it was the second. That does not seem legal, OR SAFE, to me.
When traffic slows it is common to have bicycles pass cars using the breakdown/bike lane, esp. on downhill stretches. I thought it illegal, but perhaps they have some special exemption, because they are never stopped and ticketed. In Boston, it is very common to pass on the both breakdown lanes on I295, extremely risky esp. at merge points but common.
I feel the law is rather muddy on use of breakdown lanes.
A person operating a bicycle or roller skis may pass a vehicle on the right at the bicyclist’s or roller skier’s own risk.
Park outside of Boston, take the T in :)
Like Alykins said, bicyclists and roller skiers are allowed to pass on the right at any time, whereas other operators may not.
Passing on the right is legal as long no tires leave the normal travel protion of the road. In other words you can not drive in the breakdown lane/over the white line to pass on the right. No white lines? then I would guess the edge of the pavement would be the “line” but I’m not sure I’d try it right in front of the cops
You can’t pass on the right unless the vehicle in front is turning left, or about to turn left. You can’t pass on the right unless there is unobstructed roadway (including one direction highways) of sufficient width for two or more lines of traffic. If you do pass on the right, the law reguires it be done under condtions that are safe and you cannot drive off the paved roadway to do so.
The instructor is from Maine?
The instructor is wrong.
Passing on the right is only legal if it is done on “the main traveled portion of the way”. Paved shoulders are not designed for travel.
I’m sure the instructor was fine, and the original poster was sleeping/playing angry birds on his $20 Big Lots android device.
Passing on the shoulder is only legal if the car you are passing has STOPPED and is turning, and your tires don’t touch the dirt. I think you should have paid better attention in that seminar.
That is one fast toxicology result! It sounds like a logical theory though.
praying for the girls recovery. very sad…
Thanks to all who responded, especially the ones who saved the girl from the fire. Hope everyone recovers.
Since reading this article, other stories came out from witnesses, and one man following behind actually saw the girl repeatedly “hitting” the driver and continually trying to correct the steering. Other witnesses estimated the vehicle was going around 100 mph when the crash occurred. What an awful thing. One young life lost. It’s amazing that no one else was killed. I hope the girl and the other victims recover well.
what was a 17 year old doing with a 2 8 year old
ENOUGH illegal passing. I’m fed up with it. I am driving to VT again today, I make regular trips to visit family. I have never seen so many people passing illegally as I have in the past few months. I’ve not only been passed illegally, but I’ve also been the car in the oncoming lane. People know that unless they have the misfortune of doing this in front of a cop, they won’t get caught. I had heard *77 connects to state police so I tried it the last time I felt someone was endangering the lives of others & it didn’t work. Next time, I swear I will call 911 on your butt.
I suggest others do the same & call the police on these people. Blast your horn at them (why am I the only person that does this?) for all you know, it could be the only warning an oncoming vehicle has. And blast your horn if you’re the car they could have hit. And then call 911. After this, there’s no question for me. Passing illegally actively endangers lives & that’s what 911 is for.
Sorry if I got a little rant-y there, this topic just really boils my blood. If you pass illegally, you never know who you may kill (other than yourself).
My thoughts are with all involved in this.
BTW, thought this would come in handy..
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec2070.html
Maine’s laws regarding passing another vehicle.
Last bit from Passing on the Right:
An operator may pass on the right only under conditions permitting that movement in safety. An operator may not overtake by driving off the pavement or main traveled portion of the way.
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/29-A/title29-Ach19sec0.html
Operating a vehicle in Maine.