News

3 die in Maine when car goes in wrong direction on turnpike, hitting 2 vehicles

3 die in Maine when car goes in wrong direction on turnpike, hitting 2 vehicles

Photo: clipart.com


PORTLAND, Maine (AP) A wrong-way driver on the Maine Turnpike struck two vehicles, causing a head-on collision that killed three people, police said.

Maine police said they were still working to identify the occupants of the vehicles in the Wednesday night crash in Portland. They said the wrong-way vehicle was a sedan that was going southbound in the northbound lane at a high rate of speed.

An initial investigation indicates the wrong-way driver hit a pickup truck before striking a sports utility vehicle head-on, police said. The second crash caused both vehicles to catch fire and become fully engulfed, police said.

Police said there was only one person in the SUV and they were deceased upon the arrival of emergency responders. They said both occupants of the wrong-way vehicle were also declared deceased on arrival. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured, police said.

Police said the crash was still under investigation on Thursday.

Latest Headlines

14 hours ago in Local

Person Rescued After Falling Through Ice in Winthrop

Police say the outcome could have been different without community support and proper training.

14 hours ago in Local

Police Subdue Man Waving Gun in Farmington Walmart Parking Lot

The incident took place just after 9:30 am Thursday.

16 hours ago in Local

$519 million supplemental budget heads to governor’s desk after passage in Maine Legislature

The governor's $519 million supplemental budget has passed and is now headed to her desk to be signed.

17 hours ago in Local

Portland police arrest man for 2017 killing

Portland police have arrested a man in connection with the 2017 killing of Sunao "Tom" Yamada.

17 hours ago in Local

Candidate for governor Jim Libby drops out of race after failing to qualify for clean election funding

Republican candidate for governor and State Sen. Jim Libby is dropping out of the race after failing to qualify for public campaign funding.