2 Hospitalized, 3 In Custody After Head-On Crash in Eustis

A serious head-on crash left two people with critical injuries and sent three others into custody with Border Patrol agents.

What Happened?

According to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss, it was just after 9:00 Saturday morning when the crash happened in Eustis. A silver GMC passenger van, operated by Luis Mayancela-Yunga of Biddeford, and containing four passengers, was traveling on Arnold Trail Road, off state route 27, when the driver lost control of the van and started skidding sideways on the roadway. A black Toyota SUV driven by Jean-Francois Brassard, 26, of Sherbrooke, Quebec was traveling in the opposite direction and was unable to avoid the van as it skidded into his lane, and the two vehicles collided. Police say speed and road conditions at the time are considered to be factors in the crash.

Who Was Hurt in the Crash?

The drivers of the two vehicles were not hurt but two passengers in the van were transported to local hospitals with critical injuries. Moss says both people are expected to survive. While Brassard was wearing a seatbelt, officials say no one in the van was wearing theirs.

Why Were Three People Taken Into Custody?

Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. told the Sun Journal that the passengers in Mayacela-Yunga's were all from Ecuador and three were undocumented. Those three passengers were taken into custody by the United States Border Patrol.

Anyone who believes they may have information in this case is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076.