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One driver dies in fiery crash; second driver arrested, charged with OUI

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A crahs involving two pick-up trucks killed one driver and another is facing a felony operating under the influence charge. Two passenger were injured
A fiery crash involving two pick-up trucks killed one driver and another driver was arrested and is facing a felony operating under the influence charge. Two passengers were injured. (Franklin County Sheriff’s Office photo)

STRONG – One driver was killed in a fiery head-on crash Tuesday evening on Lambert Hill Road and another driver was arrested at the scene and charged with operating under the influence. Two passengers were injured in the collision, which involved two pick-up trucks. Police say speed and alcohol are to blame.

Police are waiting for the positive identification of the driver of the truck, which was registered to a Wilton resident.

Mark Garner, 24, of Rangeley, was arrested at the scene on a charge of Class B felony operating under the influence because the crash resulted in a death.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols, emergency crews were called to the scene at 7:46 p.m. on Tuesday with the report of a crash involving two pick-up trucks on fire with entrapment of one of the drivers.

“Deputy Andrew Morgan was in Strong at the time and was the first one on scene. When Deputy Morgan arrived he observed two pick-up trucks that had collided head-on,” Nichols said. The vehicles were on fire as reported, he noted.

Involved in the collision was a 2004 Chevrolet 2500 pick-up, registered to a Wilton resident, which was traveling southbound going uphill, and a 2007 GMC 2500 pick-up. The second truck was driven by Garner,  investigators said, and traveling northbound going downhill.

Garner’s pickup, with passengers Felicia Bell, 32, of Phillips, and Dennis Hanson, 39, of Phillips, “was traveling at excessive speed according to witnesses in his vehicle, where upon he crossed the center line and collided with the Wilton registered pickup,” Nichols said. He added that “positive identification has yet to be determined.”

“Upon impact, both vehicles immediately became engulfed in flames, the occupants of Garner’s vehicle were able to exit their vehicle. However, the sole occupant of the other vehicle was unable to exit. The driver of the Wilton registered pickup was eventually extricated by Strong Fire Department personnel after the flames were extinguished. At this time cause of death and identity of the driver are still pending by the State Medical Examiner’s Office,” Nichols said.

Passengers Bell and Hanson were transported to Franklin Memorial Hospital by Northstar ambulances. Hanson appeared to have suffered a broken leg and the extent of injuries Bell’s were unknown at the time, officers said.

A hospital spokeswoman said both Bell and Hanson “were treated and released” from the hospital last night.

Garner was arrested at the scene and transported by Deputy Keith Madore to Franklin Memorial Hospital to be checked out. Once Garner was medically cleared by the hospital, he was transported to Franklin County Detention Center by Deputy Morgan.

“Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash. This crash is still under investigation and additional charges may be forthcoming,” Nichols said. Lt. David St. Laurent, Sgt. Matt Brann and Deputy District Attorney James Andrews oversaw the investigation. Sgt. Kevin Hartley and Detective Kenneth Charles are working on the crash reconstruction investigation.

Assisting at the scene were Strong Fire Department personnel. The vehicles were towed by Collins Auto Body. Deputy Andrew Morgan is the lead investigator.

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21 Comments

  1. My heart breaks for the family of the victim. Senseless, selfish act of drinking and driving. There is no excuse!

    Lives are forever changed in a blink of an eye! How horrifying for the family and responding personnel.

    My thoughts and prayers

  2. Devastating! My thoughts and prayers are with the victims family and friends.
    Also thinking of Garner’s family and friends, as well as his passengers; I wish for them a full and fast recovery.

  3. To the entire Knox family… There’s no words to express the sadness we feel for your loss. He was like one of my own children. Our prayers are with you…xx

  4. Boom. One life over. Multiple lives destroyed.
    Arrogance. I’m going to drink too much AND drive really fast. Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. Stop enabling.

  5. My heart aches for the family and friends on the deceased. drinking and driving is nothing to play around with as it results to something like this. The selfish act of the drunk driver took a man away from his children, his work and his family and friends. My school friend died at the beginning of the year due to drunk driving and the guy got a very short sentence. Maine needs tougher drunk driving laws.

  6. I agree with Mainer. Maine needs tougher drunk driving laws and harsh punishment especially when there is a loss of life involved. So sad. When will they learn drinking and driving just doesn’t mix in any way. My condolences to the deceased man’s family.

  7. This drunk foolery needs an end! How many more good Wilton folk must die for this state to realize it is a severe problem.

  8. May Jesus gently blow out the flames and cradle this innocent victim in the palm of his hand . God…..please look over the family member during this painful period of grief……….and somehow may this senseless and tragic scenario play out to have some meaning in an education to one and all of us. My heart and prayers are with the family and close friends at this needful time.

  9. It is sad but tougher laws won’t fix stupid, the people with common sense will abide by the law while the ones that cause these crashes don’t think about what will happen.

  10. My opinion on drunk driving if all you in the vehicle are drinking and raising cane they all should get the same consequences as the driver..My condolences to the family friends and children.. Theres No need of this..Come on MAINE stiffen up the charges on drunk driving..

  11. Dear Jesus, You alone are the peacemaker. I ask you to wrap your arms around these people and bring your comfort to each of them. Hold the families up as they each grieve the losses. Help the ones at fault to realize there error. Help them to become advocates to work toward the prevention of further lost lives. Peace to those who have lost there loved one way to soon. Amen.

  12. Im not condoning drinking and driving at all, but what about texting and driving, talking on the phone and driving, theres no punishment for that but yet it kills more people annually than drinking and driving. statistics show, google it for more info.

  13. Another Bad Choice!
    A senseless loss of a fine man’s life.
    Children left with a father.
    A family torn apart.
    Gone is a Husband, A son, A father, A grandson, A friend and so much to so many.
    Gone are the precious gifts that a man should have. He will never see his children grow.
    I wish love, healing and peace to his family.
    I knew Rusty. I know his family. He was loved here in this life and I am sure God has him now.

    I hope every reader of this NEVER drinks and drives.
    I wish every reader of this stops anyone who tries to drink and drive.

    Everyone in that car is guilty of Rusty’s death.

    A sad thing to live with for the rest of your life. Be happy you still have one to live.

    Rest in peace Rusty.

  14. We are pretty soft in Maine on punishment. I’m sure the penalty will not be equal to the crime!

  15. Among accidents involving teenage drivers, more deaths are the result of distracted driving, which makes sense since legally they aren’t supposed to be drinking. But that isn’t the case when you take the population as a whole. When I googled the statistics I found this…

    “In 2014, 3,179 people were killed and 431,000 were injured due to car accidents involving distracted drivers and the number is rising every year. Drunk driving claimed 9,967 lives in 2014 and was responsible for 290,000 injuries”

  16. I am one of those who would like to see tougher laws for drunk driving, but your dreaming if you think it will happen. Mainly because too many of those who have the power to do something about it, namely judges, lawyers, law enforcement officers, and lawmakers drink and drive. They will wax eloquent about being concerned about our safety when pushing the seat belt laws, but won’t touch the drunk driving laws of texting while driving, because it hits too close to home for too many of them.

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