Maine Wrong-Way Driver Killed In Crash With Tractor Trailer

A crash on I-295 in Scarborough claimed the life of an elderly driver who police say was on the wrong side of the highway.

Maine State Police Say an Elderly Man Died in the Crash

George Vandenburgh, 86, of Portland died in the crash that happened just after 6:00 Friday morning on I-295 in Scarborough.

Officials Say the Wrong-Way Driver Collided With a Tractor-Trailer Head On

Dispatchers at the Bangor and Augusta Regional Communications Centers started getting calls at approximately 6:00 Friday morning from drivers reporting a wrong-way driver on the Maine Turnpike near mile marker 42 in Scarborough. Witnesses said the Ford Fusion was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes and had exited the Turnpike onto Interstate 295.

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Maine Department of Public Safety Spokesperson Shannon Moss says additional reports indicated that the vehicle had traveled through the I-295 tolls in South Portland before ultimately colliding head-on with a tractor-trailer unit traveling southbound near Exit 4.

Mr. Vandenburgh was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver, whose name has not been released, was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland with non-life-threatening injuries.

Traffic is Moving Once Again

Traffic is moving now, but both sides of I-295 near the crash were closed for several hours.

This crash remains under investigation.

Our condolences to Mr. Vandenburgh's family and friends.

We'll update this story as more details become available.