21-year-old dies in crash on Route 155

HOWLAND – A single-car crash early Sunday morning on Route 155 took the life of a 21-year-old Sangerville woman.

Maine State Trooper Phil Dawson said Norma-Jean Beach, 21, of Sangerville, who was traveling alone, died as the result of the accident.

Dawson said the accident reported at 9:38 a.m. Sunday occurred on Route 155 about 3.2 miles west of the Howland exit of Interstate 95 on the Howland-LaGrange Road.

The trooper said speed was a contributing factor.

Dawson said Beach, who was traveling west, came into a curve a little too fast. He said it appears Beach overcorrected, causing the car to travel sideways. The car went off the road into a ditch, struck a tree and flipped onto its side, traveling into another stand of trees about 10 feet away before coming to rest on its side.

The trooper said Beach was partly ejected from the car. He said it did not appear she was wearing a seat belt.

Dawson said the 1997 red Chevrolet Lumina was a total loss. The car was owned by her parents, David and Patricia Beach of Abbot Village.

Dawson was assisted by Trooper Dan Ryan and Deputy Peter Stone of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department.

Members of the Howland Fire Department assisted at the accident scene by directing traffic on the narrow, winding road. Members of the Lincoln Fire Department were on their way with an extrication tool, but were turned back after officials determined the woman had died.