A baby was killed Monday afternoon in a one-car crash on the Maine Turnpike in Wells that injured four other people, state police said.

The baby who died in the accident was identified as 11-month-old Reece Degen of Sanford.

The crash took place about 4 p.m. in heavy rain when the driver, Alyssa Cray, 22, of Sanford, lost control of the car and it struck guardrails and then came to rest along the tree line on the southbound side of the turnpike, according to Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety.

The little girl’s mother, Brianna Degen, 21, of Sanford, was the front-seat passenger in the car. She and Cray were taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland with multiple injuries, McCausland said.

Also taken to Maine Medical Center were Cray’s two children – Connor Cray, 4 months old, and 3-year-old Alexandria Cray – both with minor injuries. Conner was in a child safety seat and Alexandria was wearing a seat belt.

Reece was also in a child safety seat in the back seat and suffered fatal head injuries, McCausland said. She died shortly after arrival at York Hospital.

State police troopers continue to investigate the cause of the accident, McCausland said.


Correction: This story was updated at 7:31 a.m., May 3, 2016, to reflect the correct spelling of Reece and Brianna Degen’s name. An incorrect spelling, provided by police, appeared in earlier versions of this story.


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