“Charges pending” in deadly Waterville crash that killed MaineDOT workers

WATERVILLE, Maine (WMTW) – Charges are “pending” against the driver involved in a deadly crash on the I-95, according to a crash report obtained by our media partner WMTW.

The crash report details the circumstances that led to the death of two MaineDOT workers, and the injuring of two others, after a passenger van crashed into them the morning of Jan. 13.

Investigators say the driver of a Kia passenger van, Samantha Tupper, failed to stop at a stop sign on the on-ramp in Waterville and also failed to yield the right of way while merging onto the I-95.

The van then entered the travel lane and was hit on the driver’s side by a southbound tractor trailer that had the right way.

The collision pushed the van into an active work zone that was “properly established.” The van hit three MaineDOT workers, killing two who were thrown off the bridge railing onto Kennedy Memorial Drive below.

Two other workers were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

Both drivers consented to blood draws. Toxicology results were still pending at the time of the report. Charges are also still pending, with the decision to be made by the District Attorney’s Office after a review of the investigation and toxicology results.

The crash report also says the crash happened in clear weather, daylight and dry road conditions.

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