Burnham woman dies, 2 hurt in Canaan crash

CANAAN – One person was killed on Monday night and two others injured in a two-vehicle accident on Route 2 near the Tropical Fish Road. Police are blaming the accident on a Pittsfield teenager who allegedly made an improper pass on a hill.

Russell “RJ” Howell, 19, of Pittsfield apparently was passing a pickup truck on a blind hill when he struck a second pickup truck head-on, according to Deputy Wilfred Dodge of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department.

Carol Goodridge, 63, of Burnham died at the scene, confirmed Dodge. She was a passenger in a 2000 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by her husband, George Goodridge, 68.

George Goodridge and Howell were airlifted to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where they underwent surgery for multiple injuries, according to Dodge.

Dodge said Howell made an improper pass, pulling his Mercury Sable into the oncoming lane to pass a pickup truck as the two vehicles crested the hill traveling west toward Skowhegan.

Howell struck the Goodridge pickup head-on, although Dodge said it appeared that Goodridge made an attempt to avoid Howell’s vehicle.

Both survivors had to be cut from their crumpled vehicles.

“He was passing on a blind hill,” Dodge said. “Mr. Goodridge went as far right as possible, but the kid cut the wheel in the same direction.”

Pittsfield police closed Route 2 at Beans Corner Road in Pittsfield, and deputies diverted traffic on Route 23 in Canaan as the road remained closed for four hours to reconstruct the accident and clear the road.

Dodge said the reconstruction was handled by the Maine State Police, and the crash remains under investigation.