OLD TOWN, Maine — Those who saw the fatal car crash Saturday morning near the River House on Main Street say the driver — who died when ejected from the vehicle — was speeding excessively, Old Town police Officer Lee Miller said Monday.
“Three witnesses saw the car. They all estimated the speed as 95 miles per hour,” the officer said. “It’s a 25 through there.”
Jonathan Worster, 23, of Carmel had been drinking before he got behind the wheel of the tan 2007 Dodge Caliber that crashed at around 4:50 a.m. Saturday, Miller said. His three passengers, Keith Rhodes, 23, of Brewer and Old Town residents Jessica Thompson, 24, and William Cassio, 21, were all injured, Rhodes seriously, the officer said.
“Speed and alcohol were factors,” Miller said. “Nobody was wearing their seat belts.”
The four had been drinking in Orono together and were heading to Woods Street when the crash occurred, he said.
Worster’s car “was traveling northbound on Main Street at a very high rate of speed,” Miller said. “When they got past Tim’s Little Big Store, he lost control. He tried to correct, but ended up hitting the pole. He hit the pole and ended up flipping the car over several times.”
When the car rolled, “It ejected the operator — the driver — of the vehicle,” the officer said, referring to Worster. “They had to extricate Rhodes. The other two crawled out.”
Worster was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he was pronounced dead.
Old Town Fire Department personnel got Rhodes out of the crushed car and he, Thompson and Cassio were all taken to EMMC. Rhodes was listed in critical condition Sunday night, Sgt. Mike Hashey said.
Thompson and Cassio have already been released from the hospital, Miller said.
The crash reconstruction was done by Old Town Police Department, with the assistance of the Maine State Police. The Orono Police Department and Orono Fire Department assisted at the scene.
The investigation determined, “He was definitely going over 90 miles per hour,” Miller said of Worster.
Bangor Daily News writer Nick McCrea contributed to this report.
Tragedy of drinking, driving and speeding. Having lived on Wood st. during my U Maine days; it sounds as though they were merely feet from their destination. Sad indeed.
Speed and alcohol…. gets ’em many times… The question would be …WHY?
and not wearing a seat belt
My condolences to Mr. Worster’s family and friends.
May the injured have a full and speedy recovery.
It amazes that in this day in and age someone doesn’t know how to operate a seatbelt… it should be something that you do automatically and I have no condolences to someone who not only put themselves in danger, but others
A lot of silly debate follows as to what substance to use that is safe for driving… Tell you what. You get behind the wheel of a 3000 pound vehicle in the most responsible and correct condition you can muster. If you cause damage, injury or death you will pay a horrible price. Not just money, but pure misery if anyone gets hurt or worse. Some people won’t sleep just waiting to get even with you for hurting their loved one. So all this smack talk by fifteen year olds is just so much b.s. . Go through life smart, not dumb.
Very well stated.
My heart goes out to all of those affected by this tragic event. Decades ago I was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a fatal accident. The driver .. who died was drunk as the rest of us were. Decades later we all STILL regret letting the driver get behind the wheel. Friends should not let friends drive drunk! If everyone is wasted call a cab … the cost of cab fair is much easier to deal with than the cost of loosing a friend.
Pot vs. Alcohol …. huge difference! Alcohol tends to make one “overconfident” of their capabilities especially when it comes to driving … ALL drunk drivers think that they are o.k. to drive. Potheads tend to become timid when driving and most of them realize that they are too stoned to drive if that is indeed the case. Hopefully this sad story will AT LEAST serve as a reminder for the Holiday season and the loss of this young life will not be in vain.
What studies are you quoting from or are these personal experiences? and oppinions
I don’t have a clue as to how you can possibly perceive any part of my comment as being related to a specific study. By the way the CORRECT spelling is OPINION.
Every day of the week ,we all know and see teenagers and 20 year-olds -somethings in our Maine towns that race around and drive recklessly….
Where are the parents and friends to say something to them ~before~ they crash?
I have a twenty year old son that I say that to every day, but when family and friends aren’t with them, their reptilian brain starts to work and they think that they are invincible. I pray every day that he listens to me. Life is way too short.
I was asked to write this for somebody else. We were talking about these comments and he took the time to hand write out a response and asked me to post it. Here is what he wrote:
Everyone seams very fast to judge things that happen in this world. It will not change the past. My condolences to the young mans loved ones for their loss.
The disrespectful comments by some persons on here makes my stomach turn. Mistakes was made, there’s no doubt about that. But a life was lost and others are hurting. It breaks my heart to see the lack of empathy. Show some decency, some respect for your fellow human beings, please.
I’m saddened by this article. Having lost someone to a similar situation, I cant attest this is a very difficult time for family and friends of those that made poor choices. I’m in no way condoning what they did, but empathising for the feelings of those involved. My thoughts and prayers are with you, and I hope this serves as a lesson to those around them.
It is both sad and pathetic that people are debating what is right or wrong about the situation. Whether or not you know the parties involved, you should show respect for those who do. Everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes the outcome is unfortunate. I happen to have known the driver of the vehicle and he was a good young man that just happened to make a mistake. So for those who have nothing better to post rather than insults about how people are “idiots” and such, you should be highly ashamed of yourselves. The words you type are the words of the foolish. It is a shame that humanity has fallen so far. My deepest sympathy and condolences to Jon’s family and friends.
I agree, Bobby. Some of these comments are very distasteful to the family of the deceased. This was somebody’s son, grandson, brother, uncle, cousin and possibly father. It really bothers me to read some of these comments and makes me wonder if the posters even consider the ones who loved this young man before writing a hurtful comment. This could have been one of their loved ones and they should consider themselves fortunate he was not because it could easily be them in pain, suffering a loss.
Hopefully this teaches a lesson to others.. buckle up and don’t drive drunk
Jon was a very nice guy, he just made a fatal choice. My heart goes out to his family. So sad and sorry for their loss. Precious child. :( All of you mean and non-caring people on here should be ashamed of yourselves for the negative comments. You could have said them in a more knowledgeable way. State the true facts of what was said and done! Don’t guess! Idiots!!!!
Wow, now I truly realize how pathetic people can be.. You people should really show some respect. Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes they can be fatal mistakes. Whether or not you think the parties involved are foolish or what errors they made in the situation should not matter regardless. You should show a little decency and common courtesy for those who do know these people. I happen to have known the driver of the vehicle and am highly insulted by the infantile approach to this discussion. Some of you should be ashamed of yourselves. It is sad to see how far humanity has fallen. R.I.P. Jon. You will be missed.
If you don’t know him or them you shouldn’t really talk. I’ve known him as long as I can remember and he was an amazing and caring person, so what he made a mistake, he’s human everyone makes mistakes and his cost him his life, so back off, have some decency, he’s dead now and he didn’t deserve that punishment at all. He was a young wonderful and sweet man with his whole life ahead of him and now that’s taken away, so I think that’s enough without people ragging on him.
R.I.P. JON~ you will always be in my thoughts and heart. “Live Fast, Die Young”