Poland Regional High School Athletic Director Don King was hospitalized Thursday after a crash Wednesday on Route 202 in Winthrop that took the life of his 24-year-old son, Connor.

King was moved early Thursday from MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta to Maine Medical Center in Portland. A nursing supervisor at the Portland hospital said King was in stable or satisfactory condition. He was said to be conscious and alert.

Alfred Parks, 65, of Readfield, the driver of the wrecker that was involved in the collision, was treated at MaineGeneral on Wednesday and released later, hospital officials said.

Police said Don King was driving west on Route 202 when his truck slipped out of control and skidded into the oncoming lane. It collided with the eastbound 2011 Dodge flatbed wrecker driven by Parks. The crash remained under investigation Thursday.

Around the region, friends and colleagues mourned the loss of Connor King as they awaited word on Don King’s condition.

“Growing up in Poland myself, I met Connor first way back in Little League when we played Mechanic Falls,” said Devin Goyette, who now lives in New Gloucester. “Finally, as high school came around, we became teammates in baseball and football.”

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In 2016, Connor King coached high school softball in Poland. Those who knew him say it was a perfect match – Connor was a young man who knew the game and he was always happy to help others.

Goyette said, “Beyond the field, I can’t say I ever heard anyone say anything bad about Connor. He was a really nice guy. I feel terrible for Don and the family.”

Connor went on to attend Saint Joseph’s College in Standish. Don King and his wife live in Mechanic Falls.

Dave Jordan, Edward Little High School’s baseball coach, has worked with and under Don King for years.

“He’s a wonderful man who always puts the community first in terms of kids and opportunities and things like that,” Jordan said. “He’s a very, very classy guy.”

Connor King was a freshman baseball player the last year Jordan coached at the Poland school. Jordan described the younger King as a player who was liked by both teammates and coaches.

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By late Thursday afternoon, most of Don King’s colleagues, former colleagues and friends had learned of his condition.

“My heart aches for this family,” said Jeff Ramich, who as a coach, teacher and athletic director in Lisbon worked directly with Don King. “I can’t say enough positive about Don – great dad and husband, great (athletic director), great role model for everyone, great friend, just a real class act.

“Don is one of those guys you look at and say, ‘I want to be more like him.’”

On Thursday, moments of silence were planned in honor of the King family at a number of sporting events across the region.

“I hold him in very high regard as a friend,” Jordan said of Don King. “Right now, it’s time for our community to rally in support that family.”


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