A vehicle collision on the Maine Turnpike in Portland resulted in the deaths of three people late Wednesday night, November 29, 2023.
Maine State Police responded to several reports of a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on Interstate 95 at around 9:40 p.m.
The incident involved a head-on collision between a gray 2018 Honda Civic traveling southbound in the northbound lanes and a black 2013 Toyota RAV4.
The collision occurred near mile marker 45 in the left northbound lane. The impact of the crash caused both vehicles to catch fire and become engulfed in flames.
The driver of the Toyota RAV4, Alpha Anastacio, 33, of Portland, was declared dead at the scene. Additionally, both the driver of the Honda Civic, Brandon Crawford-Adams, 23, of Old Orchard Beach, and a passenger in the vehicle, Julia Chapdelaine, 22, of Dudley, Massachusetts, died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Prior to the fatal collision, the Honda Civic reportedly struck a silver 2020 Ford F-150 pickup truck heading northbound. However, the driver of the pickup truck did not sustain injuries. The vehicle suffered only minor damage.
The Maine Turnpike north of Exit 45 remained closed for approximately two hours as emergency crews attended the scene for investigation and cleanup.
Maine State Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. The high speed of the wrong-way driver has been noted as a significant factor. They will also examine whether any external factors, such as road conditions or vehicle malfunction, played a role.