Vehicle Hits Swanville Grocery Store in Fatal Crash

A New York man died when his vehicle struck a Swanville grocery store and caught fire.

The Waldo County Communications Center first learned of the accident just before midnight on Tuesday. A caller told dispatchers that a vehicle traveling north on Route 141 in Swanville had left the road and struck the Swan Lake Grocery Store. They said the vehicle was on fire and they were unable to remove the driver.

When Waldo County Sheriff's Deputies arrived at the scene, they determined that 23-year-old Andrew McHugh of South Bethlehem, New York was deceased. Fire officials put out the flames that caused extensive fire, water, and smoke damage to the store. Officials say it appears speed was a primary factor in the accident.

Deputies Josh Staples, Brandon Curtis, and Lucas Potts were assisted at the scene by fire departments from Belfast, Searsport, Frankfort, and Monroe.

The investigation into this accident is ongoing.