Four People Dead, Three Hospitalized after Fiery Crash in Castine, Maine

UPDATE: Maine State Police say four students from Maine Maritime Academy were killed and three others were injured in a single-vehicle crash early Saturday morning in Castine.

Police and paramedics responded to the crash on the Shore Road in Castine shortly after 2:00 a.m., according to the Maine Department of Public Safety. The preliminary investigation indicates that a 2013 Range Rover was traveling south on Route 166 when it left the road and struck a tree before erupting in flames, spokesperson Shannon Moss reported.

Victims of crash in Castine identified

Four passengers in the SUV were pronounced dead and taken to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta. They have been preliminarily identified as 20-year-old Brian Kenealy of York, Maine, 21-year-old Chase Fossett of Gardiner, Maine, 22-year-old Luke Simpson of Rockport, Massachusetts, 20-year-old Riley Ignacio-Cameron of Aquinnah, Massachusetts.

Three survivors of fiery crash were hospitalized early Saturday

Three occupants survived the crash and were transported to local hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries. They include the driver, 20-year-old Joshua Goncalves-Radding of North Babylon, NY, 20-year-old Noelle Tavares of North Falmouth, Massachusetts and 20-year-old Dominick Gecoya of Middleton, Massachusetts.

All seven of the occupants in the vehicle were identified as students at the nearby academy, Moss said.

A section of route 166 in Castine was closed to traffic for more than eight hours while State Troopers investigated the crash. Maine State Police are conducting a full investigation.

Jerry S. Paul, President of Maine Maritime Academy issued this statement on Saturday:

The Maine Maritime Academy community was heartbroken to learn from the Maine State Police of a serious single vehicle accident resulting in multiple fatalities that occurred this morning in Castine. Based upon information we have received from MSP, we can confirm that three students sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to area hospitals and MMA leadership continues to work with authorities. Our hearts and prayers go out to all students and their families at this time. Our priority now is to support our campus community and have made counseling available. As the President of Maine Maritime, and also as a father, I ask for your respect and privacy for all of our students.

Friday was the last day of classes for the fall semester at Maine Maritime Academy.