The 44-year-old driver of a car that veered into oncoming traffic leading to a crash that sent 10 people to the hospital was driving on a learner’s permit that he had had for more than a year, according to state records.
Sebastien Bukuru, of Westbrook, was driving a Ford Explorer east on Marginal Way when the car crossed the median, destroying a road sign, then crossed a lane of traffic and collided with a westbound Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Explorer had just passed through the intersection of Preble Street Extension.
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Police are investigating whether a medical condition may have contributed to the crash because the Explorer left no skid marks before the collision, indicating the brakes had not been activated. Speed also appears to have played a role in the severity of the crash, which destroyed both cars and sent all 10 people to the hospital.
The crash happened at 11 a.m. Sunday in front of 132 Marginal Way and police shut down the road for four hours while they reconstructed it, police said.
The driver of the Jeep, Marcelina Dakiti, 35, of Portland was listed in fair condition at Maine Medical Center on Monday.
Bukuru was issued a learner’s permit on Oct. 21, 2011, according to the secretary of state’s office. It’s unclear whether any of the other three adults in the car had a license, which is required for someone with a permit.
There were six people in the Explorer and four in the Jeep. Immediately after the crash, two people in the Explorer were in critical condition and the four in the Jeep were in serious condition, police said.
One of Bukuru’s passengers, 39-year-old Clarisse Uwimana, was in fair condition Monday. Information was not available on two other adult passengers, Clemence Nyinawumuntu, 34, and Penine Nduwayo, 41.
Two younger passengers, 12-year-old Joshua Irasubiza and 15-year-old Pamela Ishimwe, were treated and released from Maine Medical Center.
The Jeep’s driver, Marcelina Dakiti, and two occupants, 8-year-old Jayvan Khamis and 5-year-old Marvin Dakiti, were in fair condition Monday afternoon.The other occupant, 6-year-old Jeissey Khamis, was treated and released.
Police closed Marginal Way for four hours while they reconstructed the crash.
No charges had been brought in the case by Monday.
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