Icy Roads, Speed Lead to 10 Waterville Crashes Including Fatality

The Maine State Police are continuing to investigate a fatality on I-95 in Waterville last night, Nov. 25.

From the Maine State Police:

On November 25, 2022 at approximately 7:19 pm, the Augusta Regional Communications Center received numerous calls reporting multi-vehicle crashes in both the north and southbound lanes of I-95 in Waterville due to icy roadways on the Messalonskee bridge. As the bridge became congested on the northbound lane, numerous secondary crashes occurred. 59-year-old Michelle Demchak of Madison was driving a Ford Escape and stopped to render aid to the occupant of a 2014 Hyundai Accent sedan that had crashed into the bridge barrier. 39-year-old Bradford Enos of Atkinson was driving a 2015 Ford F-150, towing a car carrier when he entered the crash area struck the Hyundai and hit Demchak who was standing near the car. Demchak was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.

Maine State Police shut down both the north and southbound lanes and diverted traffic into Waterville for approximately 2.5 hours. Several area agencies responded to the crashes to include the Maine Warden Service, Waterville PD, Fairfield PD and Clinton PD. Waterville and Winslow Fire Departments responded and Delta Ambulance provided emergency medical aid to victims of all the crashes. Three people were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Overall 10 crashes were reported between the north and southbound lanes. State Troopers and the Crash Reconstruction Team are investigating the fatal crash.

Preliminary information suggests that imprudent speed during inclement road conditions appear to be contributing factors in all of the crashes.