News

College holds vigil for 4 students killed in fiery crash

College holds vigil for 4 students killed in fiery crash

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


CASTINE, Maine (AP) — Several hundred students, faculty and local residents turned out Sunday evening for a candlelight vigil for four Maine Maritime Academy students killed in a fiery SUV crash.

Jerry Paul, president of Maine Maritime Academy, addressed the somber event on the lawn of Leavitt Hall after spending much of the day checking in on grief-stricken students.

“Mourn these young men in their memory. We will never forget them nor this moment in the history of Maine Maritime Academy. They were lost way too soon and before their watch was over. We will carry on for them and at the appropriate time ring eight bells in their honor,” Paul said.

The striking of eight bells is a sea tradition honoring someone who died.

Four students died and three others were hurt when a 2013 Range Rover driven by Joshua Goncalves-Radding, 20, of North Babylon, New York, crashed into a tree and burst info flames early Saturday. Goncalves-Radding and two other students survived and were taken to local hospitals.

The dead were identified as Brian Kenealy, 20, of York, Maine; Chase Fossett, 21, of Gardiner, Maine; Luke Simpson, 22, of Rockport, Massachusetts; and Riley Ignacio-Cameron, 20, of Aquinnah, Massachusetts.

Maine Maritime Academy is a four-year college that focuses on maritime training with areas of study including engineering, management, science and transportation.

The tragedy hit the tight-knit community hard. The town of Castine has about 800 to 900 residents, roughly the same number of students at Maine Maritime Academy. Some students serve with the local fire department that responded to the scene.

State police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Latest Headlines

36 minutes ago in Local

Tuesday Snow Coming to Maine; Weekend Rain Trend in 2025 Not Likely This Spring

Fresh

Zehr said any accumulation would likely take place inland from Portland, especially at higher elevations. 

2 hours ago in Local

Platner Using Trivia Games and Happy Hours in Maine Senate Campaign

Fresh

Platner is facing Gov. Janet Mills in the June 9 primary, with the winner taking on five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins,

2 hours ago in Trending, World

Artemis II astronauts race to set a new distance record from Earth and behold the moon’s far side

Fresh

With the moon looming ever larger, the Artemis II astronauts raced to set a new distance record Monday from Earth on a lunar fly-around promising magnificent views of the far side never seen before by eye.

2 hours ago in Sports, Trending

UCLA storms past South Carolina to claim its 1st NCAA women’s basketball title

Fresh

It's mission accomplished for UCLA. Gabriela Jaquez, Lauren Betts and the rest of the UCLA seniors secured the first NCAA women's basketball national championship in school history — a goal that was set after losing in the first Final Four last season.

2 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Savannah Guthrie back at ‘Today’ anchor desk for the first time since her mother’s disappearance

Savannah Guthrie was back and almost all business at NBC's "Today" show anchor desk on Monday, marking a return for the first time in more than two months since her mother's disappearance.