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Wednesday, October 22, 1997

One year in Maine: Stories behind statistics

By Barbara Walsh
Staff Writer
©Copyright Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

Fifty-five men, women and children died in alcohol-related crashes in Maine in 1996.

Some died after their cars slammed into trees and utility poles. Some died on twisting and lonely country roads. Some were ejected from their cars.

Most who died were young.

Many survivors of alcohol-related accidents were left with scars, broken bones, paralyzed legs.

Many of the drivers responsible for killing themselves or innocent victims had been convicted of driving drunk before. Some had two, three and five OUI convictions.

Here are the stories behind the statistics:

OXFORD, Jan. 7, 8:38 p.m.

Ricky Tripp of South Paris was driving his 1977 GMC truck north on Webberbrook Road when he encountered Terry McAllister of North Waterford, lying in the northbound lane.

Tripp, 34, tried to avoid hitting McAllister, but was unable to. Tripp struck McAllister, 19, and slid into a snowbank. Tripp was not injured. McAllister died. McAllister's blood-alcohol level was 0.27 percent. He had been at a party earlier in the day.

NORWAY, Feb. 19, 9:18 p.m.

Kenneth Dembski, 60, of Otisfield was driving his 1991 Mazda southbound on Paris Street and made a right turn onto Main Street. After making the turn, he noticed a pedestrian crossing the road in front of him. He attempted to stop, but struck the woman, Rosina Denning, 80. Denning, of Bridgton, died of head injuries. She was crossing the street near an American Legion hall where she had played beano. She died several days after the accident.

Dembski's blood-alcohol level was 0.15 percent. He was convicted of manslaughter and drunken driving in July and ordered to serve 26 months in prison. Dembski, who had a prior drunken-driving conviction, also was ordered to pay $2,280 restitution and serve six years probation.

JONESPORT, Feb. 28, 11 p.m.

Patrick Cirone of South Addison was driving his 1992 Ford north along Route 187 when he lost control on a patch of ice. The car skidded 442 feet before spinning around and smashing sideways into a large maple tree. Cirone, 23, died of head injuries. Cirone's blood-alcohol level was 0.10 percent. He had a prior OUI conviction in 1995.

LEBANON, March 21, 12:45 a.m.

William Trumble, 24, of Springvale was driving east on Route 202 with his cousin, Brian Trumble Jr., 26. Trumble was traveling at a high rate of speed when he lost control, skidded off the road and struck several trees. Both men died. William Trumble's blood-alcohol level was 0.22 percent; Brian Trumble's was 0.20.

BELFAST, March 30, 3:03 a.m.

Frank Roscoe, 35, of Thomaston, his wife Holly J. Roscoe, 33, and Kevin Ilvonen, 34, were traveling in a 1987 Chevrolet pickup truck northwest along Kaler Road when the driver lost control and the truck skidded and rolled several times. Holly Roscoe died in the crash.

Ilvonen and Frank Roscoe suffered incapacitating injuries to their backs. All three were ejected from the truck. Prosecutors say they are unsure which of the three was driving. They are still investigating the crash.

Holly Roscoe's blood-alcohol level was 0.05 percent. She had one prior OUI conviction. Frank Roscoe had two OUI convictions and two operating after license suspensions. Ilvonen had one OUI conviction.

BRIDGEWATER, April 6, 3:50 p.m.

Harry London of Mars Hill was traveling north on Route 1 at a high rate of speed in his 1986 Chevrolet. He came upon three other cars and may have attempted to pass them. He lost control, slid off the side of the road and hit a utility pole. London, 41, died. Richard Wilson, 51, a passenger in the car, suffered leg injuries. Wilson was ejected from the car. London's blood-alcohol level was 0.23 percent. London had three OUI convictions.

SACO, May 3, 8:04 a.m.

Robert Jordan, 45, of South Portland was traveling south on Portland Road. James Anderson, 28, of Scarborough was traveling north on the same road when he made a left turn onto Flag Pond Road. He attempted to avoid Jordan's car and failed. Both cars collided in the southbound lane and came to rest in a nearby field. Anderson died and Jordan suffered head injuries. Anderson had been convicted of OUI three times. His blood-alcohol level the night of the accident was 0.24 percent.

LEWISTON, May 8, 1:15 a.m.

Vickie Deschaine, 28, of Sabbattus was traveling east on No Name Pond Road. The car failed to negotiate a curve, left the road, struck a utility pole and rolled over several times. Deschaine died of head injuries. Speed was thought to be a factor. Her blood-alcohol level was 0.14 percent.

BROWNFIELD, May 21, 8:15 p.m.

John W. Smith was driving south on Porter Road. Smith, 46, was distracted and drove off the road, striking a tree. He suffered internal injuries and died. His blood-alcohol level was 0.27 percent. Smith had three OUI convictions.

BRIDGTON, May 25, 11:40 p.m.

Vicki McIsaac was driving her Mercury Lynx south on Route 37 with a beer bottle between her legs. The car crossed over the center of the road and struck a tree head-on. McIsaac, 39, suffered internal injuries and died at Northern Cumberland Memorial Hospital. Her blood-alcohol levelwas 0.17 percent. She had one prior OUI conviction.

DANFORTH, June 15, 11:12 p.m.

Jason J. Davis, 17, of Weston was driving west on Route 169 at a high rate of speed. He crested a hill and lost control of the car, which rolled over six times, eventually landing on Davis, who had been ejected from the car. Davis' blood-alcohol level was 0.16 percent.

BRIDGTON, June 25, 8:21 p.m.

Michael St. Pierre, 30, was driving at a high rate of speed on North High Street. He lost control of the car and it struck a utility pole. St. Pierre sustained head injuries and died. His blood-alcohol level was 0.15 percent.

St. Pierre had twice been convicted of OUI and had once been convicted of driving on a suspended license.

ACTON, July 2, 7:05 p.m.

Jeffrey Camann was driving southbound on H Road. He crested a hill, lost control of the car, struck an embankment and was ejected from the car as it rolled over several times. Camann, 46, died of head injuries. His blood-alcohol level was 0.20 percent.

WOODLAND, July 15, 8 p.m.

Scott R. Tracy rounded a curve on Perham Road and lost control of the car, which slid into a ditch, hit a parked car and a pole, jumped a second ditch and landed in a third. Passenger Jessica M. Jack, 15, was ejected from the car and died of a broken neck. Tracy, 21, and passenger Lance Michaud suffered facial injuries. Passenger Leslie LaPointe suffered leg injuries.

Tracy pleaded guilty in September to OUI manslaughter, furnishing liquor to a minor and OUI. His blood-alcohol level, taken 100 minutes after the accident, was 0.06 percent. He also had marijuana in his system. He has not yet been sentenced. Before the accident he had lost his license once for OUI.

BIDDEFORD, July 16, 1:40 a.m.

Michael T. Connors, 29, was traveling west on Main Street. His car drifted to the north side of the street, went onto the shoulder, struck a bridge railing and landed in the brook on its roof. Connors died of internal injuries. His blood-alcohol level was 0.13 percent.

LAMOINE, July 20, 6:30 p.m.

Geoffrey Hubbs, 27, and Peter Lukens, 27, were traveling west on Route 204. The driver of the car failed to negotiate a corner, crossed the road and rolled over several times, ejecting Hubbs and Lukens. Lukens died of head injuries the next day at Eastern Maine Medical Center. Hubbs received head and internal injuries. Lukens' blood-alcohol level was 0.17 percent. Prosecutors say it's unclear who was driving the car. Lukens lost a license in 1990 for driving as a juvenile with alcohol in his blood. In 1992, he was convicted of OUI. In 1993 he was convicted of driving on a suspended license.

SOUTH BRISTOL, July 21, 1:30 a.m.

Michael Southern, 19, was driving north on Route 129 with Ian A. Boyd. The car struck a tree head-on. Both received head injuries; Boyd, 23, died. A second car stopped to help and was struck by a third car passing by.

Dennis Burr, 21, who had pulled over to help, received head and shoulder injuries. Occupants of the third car - Justin S. Drake, 18, and Erica Godfrey, 17 - suffered injuries.

Both Drake and Burr had been drinking and were charged with OUI. Drake's blood-alcohol level was 0.14 percent and Burr's was 0.09 percent. Drake has been convicted of drunken driving. Burr was not charged because prosecutors felt it would be difficult to convict someone who had pulled over to help.

Southern, who suffered a brain injury, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.12 percent. He has never held a license. His right to apply for a license had been suspended at the time of the accident for a prior charge of driving without a license. He also had once been administratively fined for refusing to take a breath test during an OUI stop.

Southern has been charged with manslaughter but because of his brain injury has not yet been declared competent to stand trial.

VASSALBORO, July 29, 9:20 p.m.

Shane O. Marinez lost control of his motorcycle on Taber Hill Road. Marinez, 19, was not wearing a helmet and died of head injuries on July 31 at Mid-Maine Medical Center in Waterville. Marinez's blood-alcohol level was 0.15 percent. He had twice been convicted of driving on a suspended license.

DAMARISCOTTA, Aug. 2, 1:50 a.m.

Lori A. Prior, 18, lost control of her car while driving south on Standpipe Road. The car crossed the road and struck a tree head-on. Prior was ejected from the car and died at the scene. Her blood-alcohol level was 0.12 percent.

LEWISTON, Aug. 13, 4:40 p.m.

Daniel R. Asselin, 29, was driving outbound on Webster Street. Mark Blanchette, 18, attempted to cross the street and was struck and dragged by Asselin.

Asselin was a habitual offender with three OUI convictions. He was also convicted five times for driving on a suspended license. During the nine years before the crash, his license had only been valid for 27 days.

His blood-alcohol level after the accident was 0.21 percent. Asselin pleaded guilty to aggravated drunken driving and received four years in prison.

LEBANON, Aug. 16, 10:35 p.m.

Roland Daney, 27, was stopped for erratic driving by a state trooper. As the trooper walked up to Daney's car he noticed Daney had a beer in his lap. Daney fled and drove at high speeds westbound on Route 202.

Dawn LaPierre, 47, was making a left-hand turn when she collided with Daney's car. Daney had a blood-alcohol level of 0.35 percent. LaPierre's blood-alcohol level was 0.11 percent. Daney died of massive injuries at the scene. LaPierre received facial injuries.

Daney's license was suspended at the time of the accident and he had lost his license three times for OUI. He also had been convicted three times of driving on a suspended license.

LaPierre's license had been suspended once previously for OUI. She has been charged with OUI in connection with the August crash.

MINOT, Aug. 17, 4 a.m.

Gary P. Collins, 48, was traveling north on Center Minot Hill Road when he lost control of the car. The car rolled over four times. Collins was ejected and died of massive injuries. Collins was 48. Passenger Jennifer R. Wentworth, 20, received head and internal injuries. Police found several beer cans in the truck.

Collins had lost his license three times for OUI and was about to lose it again. Thirteen days before the accident, he had been stopped and charged with OUI. His blood-alcohol level that night was 0.24 percent.

GARFIELD, Aug. 30, 10:40 p.m.

Lloyd D. McPherson lost control of his car on Garfield Road due to excessive speed. The car skidded into a field and rolled over, ejecting 16-year old Briana Carney out the rear window. Carney, who was eight months pregnant, died of extensive injuries. Carney's baby girl was born at 1:08 a.m. Aug. 31 but did not live.

At the time of the accident, McPherson, Carney's boyfriend and the father of her child, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.10 percent. He had lost his license twice for OUI. He also was twice convicted of driving on a suspended license.

McPherson pleaded guilty in September to aggravated OUI and manslaughter. He has not yet been sentenced.

MINOT, Sept. 2, 10:25 p.m.

Richard Cliff was traveling north on Jackson Hill Road when he lost control of his car, which struck two trees and rolled over, landing on its roof. Passenger Paul M. Caradonna, 31, was ejected from the car and died at the scene. Cliff had minor injuries. His blood-alcohol level was 0.13 percent. Prosecutors are still reviewing the accident.

TURNER, Sept. 7, 1 a.m.

James Jordan, 26, was driving south on Route 4 when he veered into another travel lane and struck a car driven by Kurt L. Hewins, 22. Jordan died at the scene of massive injuries. Hewins was taken to the hospital with leg injuries. Jordan's blood-alcohol level was 0.32 percent.

WATERBORO, Sept. 15, 3 a.m.

Dennis I. Sawyer Jr., 19, was driving south on Jellerson Road when he failed to negotiate a curve and struck a utility pole. The car rolled over several times and Edward R. Waterhouse, 18, was ejected and killed.

At the time of the crash, Sawyer was driving on a license suspended for a previous OUI conviction.

In August, he was indicted on charges related to the accident. He is charged with manslaughter, OUI and operating after suspension.

PEMBROKE, Sept. 21, 12:05 a.m.

Matthew W. Wentworth failed to stay on the road while negotiating a curve. His car left Little Falls Road and struck a tree stump. The car burst into flames and Wentworth burned to death. His blood-alcohol level was 0.14 percent.

At the time of the accident, Wentworth's license was suspended for a 1993 OUI. He also had an earlier suspension for illegal transportation of liquor.

EASTBROOK, Sept. 21, 10:15 p.m.

Richard C. Hardison Jr. was traveling south on Molasses Pond Road when he lost control of the car on a curve. The car spun around and stopped when the passenger side hit a large pine tree. Front-seat passenger James F. Welch, 23, died of massive injuries at the scene. Hardison, 20, received cuts on his legs and passenger Robert J. West, 24, broke both his legs. Several empty beer cans were found in the car.

Hardison's blood-alcohol level was 0.20 percent. He pleaded no contest to manslaughter and received a two-year prison sentence and six years probation.

AUGUSTA, Sept. 27, 7:43 p.m.

Mark Feudo, 31, lost control of his motorcycle on Townsend Road and slid into a car driven by John S. Mower, 16, that was heading in the opposite direction. Feudo died at the scene of internal injuries. Feudo's blood-alcohol level was 0.09 percent.

INDIAN PURCHASE, Sept. 28, 9:45 p.m.

David A. Duby, 23, was killed when his truck left the road, rolled over and struck some trees on Route 11. Duby failed to negotiate a gradual left curve, overcorrected and lost control of the car. His blood-alcohol level was 0.11 percent.

BIG SQUAW TWP., Sept. 28, 11:50 p.m.

Glenn F. Shelley was traveling east on Squaw Mountain Road at a high rate of speed when he lost control going around a curve. The car slid off the road and struck a tree. Shelley, 27, died of head injuries. His blood-alcohol level was 0.10 percent. Three passengers were injured: Brett Roberts, 25, suffered fractured ribs; Kade Paradise, 25, leg injuries, and Ryan Griffin, 27, an ankle injury.

Shelley had a prior license suspension for illegal transportation of liquor.

SIDNEY, Oct. 4, 2:38 a.m.

Alan E. Seaver, 24, died of injuries when his car left the southbound lane of Interstate 95, entered the median and flipped over, striking trees and rock ledge. Seaver was ejected. His blood-alcohol level was 0.28 percent.

BRUNSWICK, Oct. 5, 1:09 a.m.

James G. Daviau Jr., 30, lost control of his car while trying to pass a car on Route 1. The car slid onto the grass median, rolled over several times, ejecting Daviau and his passenger, Lori L. Roberts, 27. Daviau had severe head trauma and later died at Maine Medical Center. Roberts also sustained head injuries.

Daviau's blood-alcohol level was 0.17 percent. Daviau lost his license due to an OUI in 1986 and again in 1996 for a driving to endanger conviction.

SEARSPORT, Oct. 13, 10:48 p.m.

James A. Blake was walking north in the southbound lane of Route 1. Peter Berliant, 57, was unable to see Blake and struck him.

Blake, 33, died of massive head injuries. His blood-alcohol level was 0.24 percent.

Blake had three OUI convictions. He also had been convicted five times for driving on a suspended license.

PORTLAND, Oct. 17, 3:33 p.m.

Martin E. Griffin, 36, was traveling on Dartmouth Street when his car left the road and struck a tree. He sustained head and chest injuries and died.

His blood-alcohol level was 0.21 percent.

SACO, Oct. 18, 6 p.m.

Clifford Schlagel, 40, was driving on the Maine Turnpike at a high speed when he lost control of his car. It struck the median guardrail, hit a car driven by Peter J. Cedone, 56, left the road and rolled over several times. Schlagel was ejected from the car and died of head injuries. His blood-alcohol level was 0.21 percent.

SCARBOROUGH, Oct. 21, 8:20 p.m.

Robert M. Snow was traveling with his wife Cynthia on Old Blue Point Road. He failed to stop at a washed-out area of the road during the October flood. His truck went off the bridge into Stuart Brook. His wife managed to swim to safety but Snow, 42, drowned. His blood-alcohol level was 0.11 percent.

LAGRANGE, Nov. 1, 10:20 p.m.

Michael McMahon was driving on Medford Road with three passengers when he lost control on a curve, went off the road and struck several trees. Front-seat passenger Leo Leeman, 23, died of head injuries. McMahon, 23, suffered head injuries and Alexander M. Creighton, 19, had leg injuries.

McMahon's blood-alcohol level was 0.12 percent three hours after the accident. In August, McMahon pleaded no contest to manslaughter and was sentenced to two years in prison.

MEXICO, Nov. 2, 10:12 a.m.

David Hodgkins, 44, failed to make a curve on Route 17, crossed into the other lane and hit an oncoming car driven by Paul Norman, 69. Hodgkins died of massive internal injuries. Norman suffered minor injuries. Empty and full beer containers were found in Hodgkins' car.

Hodgkins had twice been convicted of OUI prior to the crash. His blood-alcohol level during the accident was 0.14 percent.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Nov. 8, 8:09 p.m.

Raymond A. Goudreau swerved and struck a utility pole near McDonald's Garage on Saco Avenue. Goudreau, 63, died of internal injuries.

Goudreau had been convicted once of OUI and had lost his license on another occasion for refusing to take the breath test.

His blood-alcohol level during the crash was 0.20 percent.

MARS HILL, Nov. 16, 12:30 a.m.

Curtis Michaud's pickup went off Route 1A, into a ditch and over an embankment, landing front-end down onto an intersecting road. Michaud's passenger, Blake Voisine, 47, was asleep in the truck. He was ejected and suffered head injuries. Michaud, 56, died from massive chest trauma. His blood-alcohol level was 0.22 percent. Prior to the accident, Michaud had been convicted five times for OUI and twice for driving on a suspended license.

SKOWHEGAN, Nov. 22, 9:31 p.m.

A pickup truck full of teen-agers, who had been at a party earlier in the evening, ran a stop sign at the intersection of East Ridge Road and Route 2. The driver, Bryan Carrier, 19, hit a van driven by Arlyce M. Jewell, 42. Jewell and her 10-year-old son Alex died at the scene of the fiery crash. A 15-year-old passenger in the pickup truck, Elbert Knowles, also died.

Carrier received head and neck injuries. Pickup passenger Nicole Johnson, 17, was seriously injured with a crushed pelvis, kidney damage and a broken wrist. Van passenger Royce Jewell Jr. was also injured.

Carrier pleaded guilty to aggravated OUI and three counts of vehicular manslaughter and received a two-year prison sentence along with six years probation.

BIDDEFORD, Dec. 19, 1:30 a.m.

Brian R. Driscoll lost control of his car on West Street, skidded off the road, struck a rock and hit several trees. The car came to rest on its side in about 2 feet of water. Driscoll, 30, was found dead with his head in the water. His blood-alcohol level was 0.20 percent.

BANGOR, Dec. 22, 9:36 p.m.

Harold Rolfe was driving in snowy weather northbound on Route 15 when his car went off the road and flipped over, landing on its roof. Rolfe, 30, died Dec. 30 at Eastern Maine Medical Center. Police say he had been drinking heavily at a local bar and was driving at a high rate of speed at the time of the accident. His blood-alcohol level was 0.27 percent.

Julia McCue, library assistant, helped research this report.

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