Recently in Auto Accidents Category

February 5, 2010

Woman dies in 2nd accident after hit-and-run accident

58-year-old Joanne Polvinen was pronounced dead at the scene of the second accident in Lewiston on Saturday night. Her car had crossed the center line and crashed into another vehicle. Police say that 15 minutes before that accident, Polvinen, who was driving with a suspended license, crashed into a car in a cul-de-sac in Lewiston and fled the scene.

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February 5, 2010

Investigation continues into hit-and-run involving Jordyn Bakley

Police are looking for the driver of what is believed to be a pick-up truck or SUV that killed Jordyn Bakley, a 20 year-old University of Maine student, in Orono. It is believed that the vehicle that struck Ms. Bakley is a 2003-2007 Chevrolet and has front-end damage resulting from the collision. Anyone with information about this hit-and-run should contact the Orono Police Department.

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January 31, 2010

Thomaston head-on crash

An 83-year-old woman and a toddler were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries Friday after a head-on collision on Old County Road. Mike Cole, 39, of Thomaston was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier south over packed snow, formed by "drifting and constant traffic," when he lost control on a curve and slid into the northbound lane, according to Sgt. Mike Janczura of the Thomaston Police Department. Jean Lorenzen, 83, of Thomaston, who was coming in the opposite direction in a 2004 Nissan Sentra, swerved to the right to avoid a crash, but the two cars hit head-on.

At this time, there is limited information on the cause of the crash. At Peter Thompson & Associates, we have investigated thousands of car crashes utilizing the very best experts in the field. It will be critical to conduct a timely investigation to preserve evidence at the accident scene and to record witness recollections of the events.

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January 31, 2010

Route 9 crash results in death of 2

A second person has now died from injuries stemming from an accident just east of Aurora on Route 9, Friday. Police say Lorraine Rice of Pembroke died instantly. Her husband, Wayn Rice, was flown by lifeflight to Eastern Maine Medical Center, but later died of his injuries.

The SUV, a 2009 GMC Yukon, was driven by Holly Hubley, 45, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Hubley and her passenger, Trevor Graney, 35, also of Halifax, were taken by ambulance to a hospital in Bangor with non-life threatening injuries.

State Police say the Rices were in their 2002 Kia when it crossed the center line on a curve, and was struck on the passenger side by the SUV.

In this type of serious case, it is critical to conduct an accident reconstruction as soon as possible to preserve necessary evidence. For example, one of the best ways to determine whether speed was a factor in the accident is to examine and measure skid marks. Skid marks become markedly less visible as time passes, particularly if snow falls and the road is plowed. In addition, the damage to the vehicle is an excellent indicator of the speed of the vehicle immediately prior to impact, so it will be important to preserve the vehicle. At Peter Thompson & Associates, we have investigated hundreds of serious collisions and had the very best accident reconstructionists in the field determine how and why an accident occurred.

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January 31, 2010

4 injured in accident in Brooks

Police said Wednesday that driver inattention was the reason for a morning car accident that resulted in four passengers -- including a pregnant woman -- being taken to the hospital. According to Trooper Luke Cunningham of the Maine State Police, Holly Brown, 32, of Brooks was driving on Payson Road at 8:20 a.m. with passenger Amber Ayer, 10, of Brooks.

Meanwhile, Andrea Preble, 42, of Jackson was driving a 2001 Dodge Neon on Route 7 with passengers Ashley Jacobs, 10, Grace Jacobs, 4, and Caden Munroe, 3, all of Jackson. Brown's 2007 Chevy Cobalt approached the intersection with Route 7, but she "didn't see Andrea coming," Cunningham said. "She pulled out in front of her and they collided."

At Peter Thompson & Associates, we have investigated thousands of car crashes utilizing the very best experts in the field. It will be critical to conduct a timely investigation to preserve evidence at the accident scene and to record witness recollections of the events.

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January 31, 2010

Two car crash in Township 28

Maine police say icy road conditions and speed are the likely factors in a two-car crash east of Aurora that killed a woman and critically injured her husband.

Police are investigating whether 74-year-old Lorraine Rice of Pembroke, the operator of one of the two vehicles involved in the crash, was traveling at a speed unsafe for the slippery conditions.

The driver and a passenger in the other vehicle were injured and taken to a local hospital.

At this time, there is limited information on the cause of the crash. At Peter Thompson & Associates, we have investigated thousands of car crashes utilizing the very best experts in the field. It will be critical to conduct a timely investigation to preserve evidence at the accident scene and to record witness recollections of the events. Often skid marks and debris left from the vehicles will indicate not only the speed of the vehicles prior to impact, but the direction the vehicles were headed relative to each other.

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January 13, 2010

Charles Loeffler Indicted in Crash that Resulted in Serious Injuries to Passenger

A York teenager was indicted last week on several charges in connection with an alleged drunken-driving accident that sent two people to the hospital. Charles Loeffler, 18, 110 Long Sands Road, was indicted in York County Superior Court on charges of operating under the influence resulting in serious injury or death, and leaving the scene of an accident, both felony offenses. The charges arise out of an accident that occurred on Brave Boat Harbor Road in York last August. Police said Loeffler was driving a car just before 11:30 p.m. when the car struck a cement bridge abutment head-on.

After the crash, Loeffler and a 16-year-old passenger allegedly fled from the scene on foot, leaving another passenger injured in the back seat. That person, Cameron Rodriguez, 19, of York, received internal and head injuries as a result of the crash.

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January 6, 2010

Plow Truck Hits and Kills Arthur Poulin, 82

A China man has died after suffering severe injuries when he was struck by a plow truck on Sunday. Arthur Poulin, 82, suffered serious head injuries in the accident. Poulin was the father of retired Maine State Police Colonel Craig Poulin.

The cause of this accident is under investigation. As personal injury specialists, Peter Thompson & Associates has investigated hundreds of accidents. In almost all cases, the primary and secondary causes of collisions are disputed, resulting in the need for a comprehensive accident reconstruction. While police will often conduct an accident reconstruction, we find it frequently necessary to conduct more detailed investigations of accident scenes to determine who was at fault. Because important evidence that will be necessary to provide the most accurate investigation is often lost as time passes, it is critical that a comprehensive accident reconstruction occur as soon as possible and that all witnesses to the accident are interviewed to preserve their recollections.


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January 4, 2010

Route 111 Accident in Arudel Injures Six

January 3, 2010: A serious accident accident on Route 111 in Arundel injured six. Four ambulances were called to the scene.

At this time, there is limited information on the cause of the crash. At Peter Thompson & Associates, we have investigated thousands of car crashes utilizing the very best experts in the field. It will be critical to conduct a timely investigation to preserve evidence at the accident scene and to record witness recollections of the events. Often skid marks and debris left from the vehicles will indicate not only the speed of the vehicles prior to impact, but the direction the vehicles were headed relative to each other.

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December 31, 2009

Standish Crash Results in Fatality

December 30, 2009: 63-year-old David Warren was killed Wednesday when the PT Cruiser he was driving collided with a van driven by 50-year-old Robert Simocko on River Road in Standish. Simocko was rushed to Maine Medical Center, where he is listed in fair condition.

In this type of serious case, it is critical to conduct an accident reconstruction as soon as possible to preserve necessary evidence. For example, one of the best ways to determine whether speed was a factor in the accident is to examine and measure skid marks. Skid marks become markedly less visible as time passes, particularly if snow falls and the road is plowed. In addition, the damage to the vehicle is an excellent indicator of the speed of the vehicle immediately prior to impact, so it will be important to preserve the vehicle. At Peter Thompson & Associates, we have investigated hundreds of serious collisions and had the very best accident reconstructionists in the field determine how and why an accident occurred.

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December 26, 2009

Windham Crash Results in Serious Injuries

Police say a vehicle heading east on Anderson Road went out of control, skidded, and hit a tree. Two people were in the car. The driver, Dylon Belanger and his passenger, Denise Dunton, both of Westbrook were taken to Maine Medical Center. Belanger is listed in critical condtion. Dunton is stable.

In this type of serious case, it is critical to conduct an accident reconstruction as soon as possible to preserve necessary evidence. For example, one of the best ways to determine whether speed was a factor in the accident is to examine and measure skid marks. Skid marks become markedly less visible as time passes, particularly if snow falls and the road is plowed. In addition, the damage to the vehicle is an excellent indicator of the speed of the vehicle immediately prior to impact, so it will be important to preserve the vehicle. At Peter Thompson & Associates, we have investigated hundreds of serious collisions and had the very best accident reconstructionists in the field determine how and why an accident occurred.

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December 26, 2009

Belgrade Crash Under Investigation


December 24, 2009: Kennebec County police say two cars were involved in an accident on route 27, about a mile north of Christie's store, near Bog Brook. Police say Jeromiah Baker died in the crash. The driver of the other vehicle, Jessica Bourget complained of leg injuries and was taken to Maine General Memorial Hospital in Augusta.

The cause of this accident is under investigation. As personal injury specialists, Peter Thompson & Associates has investigated hundreds of accidents. In almost all cases, the primary and secondary causes of collisions are disputed, resulting in the need for a comprehensive accident reconstruction. While police will often conduct an accident reconstruction, we find it frequently necessary to conduct more detailed investigations of accident scenes to determine who was at fault. Because important evidence that will be necessary to provide the most accurate investigation is often lost as time passes, it is critical that a comprehensive accident reconstruction occur as soon as possible and that all witnesses to the accident are interviewed to preserve their recollections.

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December 26, 2009

Route 26 Crash Involving Glen Aubrey and Michael Pisani Results In Fatality

December 18, 2009: The crash occurred shortly before 8:00 PM Thursday along a curve on Route 26. According to police accounts, an SUV driven by 25-year-old Stephen Hulbert of Glen Aubrey turned in front of a car driver by 21-year-old Michael Pisani of Union. Both Hulbert and his 24-year-old wife, Cristin Hulbert were trapped. Ms. Hulbert died at Wilson Hospital. Stephen Hulbert is being treated for his injuries. Mr. Pisani is also being treated for injuries.

At Peter Thompson & Associates, our attorneys and crash scene investigators have investigated many similar accidents. Frequently driver inattention or distraction is the cause. For example, an accident we investigated recently turned out to be due to a driver talking on a cellphone. Although the driver initially claimed that he wasn't talking on the phone immediately before the accident, we were able to obtain copies of his cellphone records which revealed he lied about that important information. The case was successfully resolved.

Improper speed is also another common factor. Our investigations of accidents generally result in accident reconstructions that look at skid marks, damage to the vehicles, and the distance travelled by the vehicles after the collision to determine the speed of the vehicles immediately prior to impact. We also are able in many cases to obtain data from the vehicles internal computers about speed immediately prior to impact. Witness statements are also crucial information in determining whether excessive speed was a factor in the accident. It is critical that an investigation begin immediately after the accident has occurred in order to preserve physical evidence and obtain statements from witnesses before memories of events fade.

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December 10, 2009

Scarborough man killed in head on crash in Edgecomb

Deputies identified the victim as 62-year-old Eugene Estes. Estes was a courier for NorDx. At the time of the crash, Estes was traveling Route 27 in Edgecomb in a NorDx vehicle to pick up lab specimens from St. Andrews Hospital in Boothbay Harbor.

At this time, there is limited information on the cause of the crash. At Peter Thompson & Associates, we have investigated thousands of car crashes utilizing the very best experts in the field. It will be critical to conduct a timely investigation to preserve evidence at the accident scene and to record witness recollections of the events. Often skid marks and debris left from the vehicles will indicate not only the speed of the vehicles prior to impact, but the direction the vehicles were headed relative to each other.


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December 9, 2009

Livermore accident causes fatality

An East Dixfield man died Sunday from injuries he received when the van he was a passenger in slid in the snow on Route 4 and collided with another vehicle Saturday night, State Police Lt. Walter Grzyb said. Richard Stickney, 69, of East Dixfield, died early Sunday several hours after the accident occurred at about 9:30 p.m., he said.

Three others were also taken by ambulance to the Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston after the crash.

Sabrina Stickney, 39, of Mexico was driving a 1998 Dodge Caravan northbound when she lost control in the snow on a corner, just north of the Boothby Road/Route 108 intersection, Grzyb said Monday.

The van slid sideways and skidded into the southbound lane into the path of a 1998 Toyota 4-Runner driven by James MacMahon, 67, of Scarborough, which was heading south, Grzyb said.

The van was pretty much T-boned on the passenger side, he said.

At this time, there is limited information on the cause of the crash. At Peter Thompson & Associates, we have investigated thousands of car crashes utilizing the very best experts in the field. It will be critical to conduct a timely investigation to preserve evidence at the accident scene and to record witness recollections of the events. Often skid marks and debris left from the vehicles will indicate not only the speed of the vehicles prior to impact, but the direction the vehicles were headed relative to each other.

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