NEW GLOUCESTER – Maine state police believe a collision that claimed a life last month in New Gloucester was no accident.

State police investigators announced Friday that they believe the driver of a sport utility vehicle that crossed the centerline and slammed into a commercial truck did so intentionally.

The SUV driver, Thomas Beckmann, 52, of Cumberland, was burned beyond recognition in the fiery collision. The state medical examiner used X-rays to identify him.

The investigator, Sgt. Mike Edes, was troubled from the beginning because the truck driver reported that the SUV thwarted his maneuvers aimed at avoiding a head-on collision.

The driver of the truck escaped with minor injuries. Frederick Capen of Lancaster, Mass., told police he did all he could to avoid the SUV but it still hit him head on.