Head-on crash involving wrong-way driver leaves three dead

PORTLAND - A wrong-way driver speeding south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 crashed into two vehicles that resulted in the deaths of three on Wednesday.

Police first learned of the wrong-way driver from several 911 calls around 9:40 p.m. that reported a wrong-way vehicle traveling on the Turnpike southbound at a high rate of speed in the northbound lane in the area of Mile 48 in Portland.

The initial investigation indicated that the wrong-way vehicle, a 2018 Honda Civic, first struck a 2020 Ford F150 pickup truck that was traveling northbound. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured and reported only minor vehicle damage.

Shortly after hitting the pickup truck, however, the wrong-way driver struck a 2013 Toyota Rav4 head-on, resulting in both vehicles catching fire in the area of mile marker 45. The operator of the Toyota Rav4, the sole occupant, was found deceased by first responders. Both of the occupants in the wrong-way vehicle were also killed.

The triple fatality crash continues to be investigated by the Maine State Police in collaboration with the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta who will identify the three occupants of the vehicles involved. The Turnpike was closed north of Exit 45 for around 2 hours.