Maine Woman Reported Missing is Killed in a Highway Crash

A Maine woman who was the subject of a Silver Alert has died in a crash with a tractor-trailer on I-95.

Why Was the Silver Alert Issued?

Jean Robinson, 78, of Gorham was supposed to drive to Southwest Harbor on Tuesday but never arrived at her destination. No one had heard from her since 9:00 that morning, so police checked her home, but she wasn't there. Ms. Robinson suffered from cognitive impairment so a Silver Alert was issued for her and her gray Subaru Outback.

Where Was the Crash?

On Wednesday, Maine Department of Public Safety Spokesperson Shannon Moss reported that Robinson was killed in a crash at mile marker 80 on the southbound side of the interstate in Lewiston. Maine State Troopers responded to the crash just after 2:30 Wednesday morning and found the Outback and a Freightliner tractor-trailer operated by David Alicea, 63, of Nashua, New Hampshire.

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What Happened?

An investigation into the circumstances of the crash determined that Robinson had pulled over to the side of the highway just before the southbound off-ramp at Exit 80. The truck was traveling south and the driver saw the sedan pulled over in the breakdown lane. Police say it appears that the car suddenly turned left into the lane of travel. The truck driver couldn't avoid the collision and hit the sedan broadside. Robinson was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Alicea was not hurt in the crash, which remains under investigation. Our condolences to Ms. Robinson's friends and family.