A Massachusetts man was killed and three central Maine men were critically injured in a crash Saturday in East Winthrop and remain hospitalized Tuesday.
Police say shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday, the Winthrop Communications Center received a report of a speeding car driving west on U.S. Route 202.
Officer Cody Perkins was unable to find the car and turned back toward Main Street when he saw a white Ford Mustang traveling east on Route 202 traveling 123 mph, according to a press release issued Monday by Winthrop police Chief Paul Ferland. The speed limit on that stretch of road is 45 mph.
Perkins was not able to catch up to the vehicle, but as he approached East Winthrop, in the area of the White Duck Brew Pub, he came across a crash involving three vehicles. One was a Mustang, Ferland said.
According to police, the Mustang struck a white Toyota Tacoma pickup driven by Steven Greene, 76, of Wayland, Massachusetts. Greene had been turning left onto Turtle Run Road and was thrown from his vehicle. He died at the scene.
Greene’s truck was pushed into the path of a black Chevrolet Silverado driven by Alexander Totman, 21, of Winthrop, Ferland said. Totman was not injured and his truck suffered minimal damage.
The Mustang was driven by John Stratton, 21, of Sidney. Jason Kirshman, 51, of Augusta, owns the vehicle and was a passenger, along with Nathaniel Heath, 20, of Oakland, who is identified as Stratton’s brother.
Kirshman was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta with what police describe as life-threatening injuries and was later taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Heath was also taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center and was immediately taken by LifeFlight of Maine to Maine Medical Center, with critical injuries. Stratton was also transported by LifeFlight with critical injuries to Maine Medical Center.
Initially, information provided by the Winthrop Police Department identified a passenger in the Mustang as Nathaniel Stratton, 44, of Oakland.
On Tuesday, Ferland said Stratton is listed in serious condition, Heath is listed in critical condition, and Kirshman is listed in stable condition.
Ferland said the accident remains under investigation by the Maine State Police. Winthrop police were helped at the scene by state and Monmouth police, the Winthrop and Manchester fire departments and Winthrop Ambulance Service.
The accident is being reconstructed by the Maine State Police.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact the Winthrop Police Department at 207-377-7226.
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