Two dead following Castle Hill crash

    CASTLE HILL, Maine – A two-vehicle crash along a section of Route 163 near Haystack Mountain July 26 resulted in the death of two Ashland-area residents and left a third individual seriously injured.     Maine State Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led up to the fatal accident.
“We received a report of a two-vehicle collision on Route 163 on July 26 at approximately 9:15 p.m. The caller indicated there had been a serious rollover near Haystack Mountain,” said Sgt. Dave McPherson of Troop F.
When emergency personnel arrived, they discovered Dustin Eastman, 21, alive beside a wrecked 1999 Chrysler two-door coupe. He was transported by Crown Ambulance to The Aroostook Medical Center and later transferred in critical condition to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. No information on his condition was available at presstime.
A second victim, Julia Saucier, 35, was located about 100 feet from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Saucier would have celebrated her 36th birthday on Friday.
A third victim was found later the same evening.
“Using a thermal imager, personnel from the Mapleton Fire Department discovered a second deceased occupant, Jerry Caron, 36, approximately 45 minutes later,” said McPherson.
McPherson said the Chrysler, owned and registered to Caron, was traveling east on Route 163 when it attempted to pass a 2006 Subaru Legacy driven by Chad Junkins, 28.
“Contact was made between the two vehicles and the Chrysler skidded off the roadway, rolling several times,” said McPherson. “Junkins was not injured from the vehicle contact.”
McPherson indicated everyone involved in the accident was from the greater Ashland area.
None of the victims were believed to have been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
State police were on the site again Friday attempting to digitally reconstruct the scene.
“The collision remains under investigation, with speed and alcohol being considered as possible factors,” said McPherson.
Police have not determined who was driving the vehicle.
The Chrysler was demolished in the incident. No word was available on the extent of damage to the Subaru.
Several state police units responded to assist at the scene to assist Trooper Brian Harris, the primary investigator on the case.
A funeral for Saucier was held at Stimson-Ouellette Funeral Home in Ashland on Tuesday, with a committal service and interment in the Ashland Municipal Cemetery. She is survived by her four children: Brandon Labbe, Ashlee Labbe, Jase Labbe and McKenna Brown, all of Ashland; a brother, Raymond Saucier Jr., of Nashville, Tenn.; and a sister, Renee Bragdon and her husband, Ryan, of Presque Isle. Those who wish to contribute in her memory may do so by donating to a fund established for her children’s education, in care of Mindy Nelson, 398 Castle Hill Road, Washburn, ME 04786. To leave online condolences, go to www.ouellettefuneralhome.com.
A funeral for Caron was held Tuesday at Stimson-Ouellette Funeral Home. Caron is survived by his parents, Liette Caron of Portage Lake and Gary Caron of Clackamas, Ore.; a sister, Mary Casey and her husband, John, of Ashland; a niece and nephew, Samantha Casey and John Robert Casey, both of Ashland. A funeral mass was held Tuesday at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Portage Lake. A committal service and interment followed at St. Mark Cemetery, Sheridan. Donations in his memory can be sent to: Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, 636 Morris Turnpike, Suite 3A, Short Hills, NJ 07078. Condolences may be left at the funeral home’s Web site listed above.