Maine Injury Lawyer Blog

November 8, 2009

Mother and daughter fatally injured in Auburn crash

November 7, 2009: Authorities are conducting an investigation in the cause of a crash that killed a mother and daughter in Auburn on Saturday. Police reported that a truck hauling an trailer was traveling eastbound on Minot Avenue when it crossed the center line and stuck a 2003 Oldsmobile that was traveling westbound. The operator of the Oldsmobile, a 36-year-old woman from Auburn was killed instantly. Her 4-year-old daughter later died at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewsiton. The operator of the truck, a 43-year-old man from Norway and a passenger from each vehicle were in critical condition at CMMC Saturday night.

Police did not immediately release any names. The cause of the crash was still under investigation late Saturday.

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.

October 28, 2009

Augusta man seriously injured when hit in crosswalk in Augusta

by Peter Thompson & Associates

October 19, 2009: Andrew Jones, 19, was crossing to the west side of Bangor Street in a crosswalk, when he was struck by a sedan-style vehicle driven by Wendy Peace, 41, of Fairfield. This accident is being investigated by Peter Thompson & Associates. If you have information about this accident, please contact Attorney Peter Thompson at 1-800-804-2004.

October 28, 2009

Thomaston crash leaves 3 Rockland residents injured

by Peter Thompson & Associates

Timothy Benner, 42, of Rockland was driving his 1998 Mercedes Benz west on Route 1 when his vehicle collided with a 1995 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by David Cowan, 55, of Rockland.

Both drivers and a passenger in Benner’s car, Donna Cox, 32, of Rockland, were injured in the collision. The cause of the accident is being investigated. Anyone with additional information about the accident should contact Attorney Peter Thompson at 1-800-804-2004.

October 28, 2009

Head-on collision on Route 15 in Brooklin leaves 5 injured

by Peter Thompson & Associates

Diana Dowse, 59, of Brooklin was headed south on Route 175 about a mile south of the High Street intersection at about 4:25 p.m. when her vehicle collided head-on with a pickup truck operated by Timothy Sawyer, 42, of Brooklin.

Dowse was taken by ambulance to Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth.

Sawyer and three passengers in his vehicle, Caleb, Timothy and Ethan Sawyer were taken to Blue Hill Memorial Hospital for treatment.

October 10, 2009

Wade Foster, 35, arrested in connection with fatal collision with motorcyclist

by Peter Thompson & Associates

October 5, 2009:sA 25-year-old Lisbon motorcyclist has died as a result of a collision with a motor vehicle on Route 125 in Bowdoin. Wade Foster, 35, of Lewiston, reportedly turned his 1995 Chrysler Concord left in front of a motorcycle driven by Richard Paraskevakos, 25, of Lisbon, at approximately 6:45 p.m., according to a release from the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Department. Paraskevakos was flown to Central Maine Medical Center by helicopter, but was later pronounced dead.

According to the Bureau of Motor Vehicle records, Foster is a habitual offender with a previous OUI conviction in 1999. Monday’s crash is being reconstructed by the Brunswick Police Department and investigated by the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Department.

October 10, 2009

Caribou teenager charged in 3-car accident in Presque Isle

by Peter Thompson & Associates

October 4, 2009:sA three-car accident on Route 1 led to charges against a 17-year-old driver from Caribou. Presque Isle police Sgt. Mark Barnes said the juvenile, whose name was not released because of his age, was driving a 1999 Pontiac just after 9 p.m. Sunday in the city when he passed another car, then slammed on his brakes in the middle of the road. There was no vehicle, animal or other obstruction in front of him, Barnes said. “He stopped suddenly, without any reason.”

The driver of the car behind the boy slammed on his brakes but could not avoid striking the back of the Pontiac. That car then was hit from behind by another vehicle.

The juvenile, who had a passenger in the vehicle, immediately left the scene.

October 10, 2009

Hit and run accident in Lincolnville leads to arrest

by Peter Thompson & Associates

Tiffeny L. Green, 35, of Martin Corner Road was arrested at the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday night. Green was charged with leaving the scene of a personal-injury accident, among other things. Waldo County Chief Deputy Robert Keating said Green admitted to Deputy James Greeley that she knew she struck something with her vehicle but thought it was a mailbox.

Andrew Widdecomb, 17, of Lincolnville was hit by Green’s vehicle as he walked along Heal Road with his girlfriend at 6:25 p.m. Monday. Widdecomb was taken by ambulance to Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport. A passenger-side mirror broke away from Green’s vehicle when it struck Widdecomb.

September 22, 2009

Update: Three vehicle crash in Littleton

by Peter Thompson & Associates

A spokeswoman for Eastern Maine Medical Center said James Westerdahl, 75, of Littleton died Friday afternoon.

He was southbound in his 1999 GMC truck about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday when reportedly a tire blew out on the extended cab vehicle.

Westerdahl lost control and swerved into the northbound lane, directly into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer truck driven by James Sprague, 57, of Nobleboro.

September 22, 2009

September 20, 2009: Portland crash kills 18 year old passenger

by Peter Thompson & Associates

The crash happened in Portland around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Police say a Ford Mustang driven by 21-year-old Yannick Mulongo of Portland crossed the center line on a street, hitting a Chevy Impala and several utility poles.

Police say the 18-year-old killed was a passenger in the car driven by Mulongo. His name is not being released until next of kin can be notified.

The Impala was driven by 31-year-old Fartun Aden of Portland.

September 22, 2009

Crash in Elliotsville injures 3; Coburn Roberts arrested

by Peter Thompson & Associates

Coburn Roberts, 26, was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants and operating after suspension. He is expected to make his initial court appearance on Oct. 26 in 13th District Court in Dover-Foxcroft.

Roberts was at the wheel of a Chevrolet pickup truck that left the road in Drew Valley in Elliotsville at about 8:14 p.m. Saturday, according to Investigator Jamie Kane of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department. Elliotsville is between Monson and Willimantic. He said the driver lost control of the vehicle and it went down an embankment.

Kane said Roberts left the vehicle despite the fact his three passengers were injured. He said the three passengers — Steven Roberts, 37, of Guilford; Kirk Thornley, 24, of Monson; and Konrad Thornley, 27, of Bradley — were taken by ambulance to Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft and Kirk Thornley was later taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.