PORTLAND

Hometowns of drivers in Raymond crash released

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office has released the hometowns of drivers involved in a fiery crash on Route 302 in Raymond Friday.

Capt. Jeff Davis of the sheriff’s office said Steven Hazen, 62, who was the most seriously injured in the crash, is from Boston.

Davis said Hazen’s car was hit from behind by a pickup truck, owned by Coca-Cola, as he waited in the eastbound lane to turn left from 302 into a driveway near Hawthorne Road.

The driver of the pickup was Robert Boyle, 50, of Windham.

Hazen’s car was pushed by the impact into the westbound lane, where his car was hit again, by a pickup driven by Brian Clark, 65, of Naples, Davis said. That pushed Hazen’s car back into the eastbound lane, where it was hit a third time, by an SUV driven by Ellen DeLuca, 61, of Casco, according to Davis.

Hazen’s car then caught fire.

Hazen was taken to Maine Medical Center with serious injuries that are not life-threatening. Clark was also taken to the hospital for what Davis said were unspecified injuries.

Davis said the accident is under investigation.

AUGUSTA

Lawmaker calls education best job-creation program

State Sen. Justin Alfond said a good education system is the best job-creation program the state can have.

In the weekly Democratic radio address Saturday, Alfond said that without an educated work force, the state will be hard-pressed to fill job openings and attract new investment to Maine. He said an educated work force is the ticket to remaining competitive.

Alfond said the jobs of the future won’t be limited to people with bachelor’s degrees, and that the best educational path for many may be to learn a trade or a skill.

SALEM, N.H.

Pickup crashes in woods off I-93, killing two people

New Hampshire State Police said two people died in a crash off of Interstate 93 in Salem.

Troopers identified the driver as 29-year-old Michael Joyce of Stoneham, Mass., and a passenger as 23-year-old Karina O’Donnell of Merrimac, Mass.

Investigators said their northbound pickup truck left the ramp leading into the Salem rest area and struck a tree. Police said it appears speed may be a factor.

CONCORD, N.H.

Report: State will draw  7.8 million visitors this fall

A report estimates that the fall season is projected to draw 7.8 million visitors to New Hampshire, a slight increase over last year.

Spending is anticipated to be $1 billion, 3 percent higher than spending for last fall.

The report was done for the Division of Travel and Tourism Development by the Institute for New Hampshire Studies.

GOSHEN, N.H.

Mother, son face charges in connection with fire

A mother and a son have been charged in connection with a shed fire in Goshen, N.H.

WMUR-TV reports investigators charged Ian Pillsbury with arson, conspiracy to commit witness tampering and witness tampering. His mother, Lisa Pillsbury, was charged with conspiracy to commit witness tampering.

The shed on Mill Village Road burned down Sept. 7. At the time, police said they also found the words “snitch rats” spray-painted on the home next to it.

– From staff and news services