Five die over weekend in four accidents

Two men were killed and a third suffered critical injuries in a head-on collision early Sunday morning in Milford after the driver of another vehicle fell asleep at the wheel, according to Maine State Police.

Sunday’s was one of four fatal accidents over the weekend across the state.

Gail Thibeault of Cardville was driving north on Route 2 in Milford in a 1995 GMC pickup truck when she fell asleep at approximately 2:40 a.m., according to the state police. Her truck crossed the centerline just north of the Highway Service Garage and crashed into a 1979 Chevy pickup with the three men inside.

Rodney Thurston of Stillwater, 41, and Harold Barnes of Old Town, 42, were pronounced dead at the crash scene, according to state police.

The third man in the Chevrolet pickup, Ronald Thurston of Milford, 40, was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center with acute injuries. He remained in critical condition at the hospital Sunday afternoon, according to the hospital’s nursing supervisor.

State police could not say whether the two Thurstons are related.

Thibeault, 17, walked away from the accident unhurt, according to the State Police. But she was transported to EMMC for precautionary reasons where she was treated and released.

No charges were filed at the accident scene, according to state police.

Besides the state police, Old Town and Orono fire and rescue squads and the Milford Fire Department responded to the crash.

In Parkman, Romeo Morin, 74, died Saturday morning after his car veered off Route 150 and struck some trees.

Witnesses told police that Morin’s driving had been erratic as he traveled from Guilford to Parkman. Morin may have had a medical problem before his 1988 Pontiac went down an embankment and into some trees, according to investigator Alan Emerson of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department.

The 8 a.m. accident occurred after a sharp curve and nearly opposite the Harlow Pond Road, Emerson said. Morin was unconscious and was not breathing when medical personnel from Mayo Regional Hospital arrived at the scene. Efforts to revive the man, who was taken to Mayo Regional Hospital, were unsuccessful.

Emerson said it appeared Morin was not wearing a seat belt and there was no indication that alcohol was a factor in the accident.

Guilford firefighters, Maine State Trooper Adam Coover and other deputies from the sheriff’s department assisted Emerson at the scene.

Damage to Morin’s vehicle was estimated at $3,000.

In Southern Maine, Tony Sappier, 28, of Windham died after being trapped in a pickup truck that overturned on Payne Road in Scarborough. Two other passengers and the driver, Thomas Sappier of Windham, escaped with minor injuries, police said.

Payne Road was closed for about six hours while police reconstructed the accident, which remained under investigation.

In Raymond, Sary Svay, 19, of Portland was killed when the car driven by her brother swerved off Route 85 and hit a utility pole.

Police said the victim’s 21-year-old brother, who was driving, and another 21-year-old man were ejected from the car. Police said none of them was wearing a seat belt, and speed appeared to be a factor.