Five still in hospital after fatal van crash

HOULTON – Five children remained hospitalized Monday with injuries they suffered on Sunday in a two-vehicle crash.

Isaiah Belyea, 6, of Houlton was listed in critical condition at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

Belyea’s brother, Adam Belyea, 16, was killed in the crash of a van and a pickup truck that injured nine other people.

Four other children were listed in stable condition Monday at Houlton Regional Hospital. They are: Andrew Dow, 16, and Benjamin Dow, 14, brothers who live in Houlton; Stephanie Sennet, 15, of Houlton; and Curtis Swimm, 11, of Houlton.

Treated Sunday for various injuries and then released were Brian Dow, 46, of Houlton, the driver of the van, his wife, Beth Dow, 39, and their daughter, Amber Dow, 16.

Also treated for injuries were Ronald Suitter, 45, of Linneus and his wife, Robin Suitter, 39, who were in the pickup truck.

The accident, which remains under investigation, occurred at about 10 a.m. Sunday on Bangor Road as Dow was driving west in a 1991 Plymouth Voyager minivan.

He reportedly was taking his family to church at the New Limerick Baptist Church in New Limerick and was doing a favor for some other families by taking their children to church as well.

There were nine people in the van, which Houlton Police Chief Daniel N. Soucy said Monday appears to have had a seven-passenger capacity. He said police were checking with the manufacturer to confirm the capacity.

The Maine State Police also are doing a vehicle autopsy on the van to make sure it was working properly before the accident, he said.

Everyone in the van was wearing a seat belt, the chief said, but some of the children may have been sharing seat belts.

According to police, it was snowing when Dow lost control of the van on the slippery road. The van slid across the centerline and was struck broadside by a 1998 Ford F150 pickup truck headed east and operated by Ronald Suitter

Adam Belyea was sitting in the center seat in the middle of the van where the pickup struck on the passenger side.

The Houlton Fire Department had to use hydraulic rescue equipment to gain access to the van so that Houlton ambulance personnel could treat the children.

Adam Belyea was a sophomore at Houlton High School. Isaiah is in the first grade at Houlton Elementary School.

The SAD 29 crisis intervention team will be in place today when pupils at both schools return to classes after school was canceled Monday because of the weather.

Superintendent Susan Lolley said counselors would be available to meet with pupils who want to talk about Sunday’s accident.