BIDDEFORD — Chaz Dorais almost died a year ago, on New Year’s Eve, after he lost control of his truck and hit a telephone pole.

He spent the past year recovering from the accident, trying to build a life for himself and his 4-month-old son, Carter.

His young life ended tragically early Sunday when the car he was riding in left the road near 214 West St. in Biddeford and hit a garage. Mr. Dorais died from the injuries he sustained in the crash. He was 19.

He was a son of Corey Dorais and his wife, Rachel, of Biddeford. He also leaves a sister, Leia Dorais, 12, of Biddeford.

He was remembered by his father on Monday as a happy and outgoing kid who liked fishing, four-wheeling and hanging out with his friends.

Mr. Dorais attended Biddeford High School.

He would have graduated in 2011, but he withdrew during his senior year after his car accident.

He then helped his father at his business, Coastal Tech Heating, and picked up side jobs doing roofing work.

His father said Mr. Dorais had a tough year but he was trying to get back on his feet.

“It’s such a tragedy. He was so young,” his father said. “Kids today think they’re invincible. You don’t think it could ever happen to you, but it did. I just can’t believe he’s gone. I can’t make sense of this. He meant the world to me, my wife and his sister.”

Mr. Dorais had scores of friends who loved and cared for him. More than a dozen of his friends posted pictures and comments about him on his cousin Derick Dorais’ Facebook wall.

One friend said, “I remember having a class with Chaz last year. He is what made that class worth going to. He always had a smile on his face no matter what. I’m (going to) miss his random jokes and his personality. RIP. Gone but never forgotten.”

Mr. Dorais was good friends with 19-year-old Patrick Beatson, who was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier on West Street when he lost control.

Deputy Police Chief JoAnne Fisk said Monday that officers are continuing to investigate the accident.

Beatson was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland with non-life-threatening injuries. He was released from the hospital on Monday.

Mr. Dorais’ father said he had not talked to Beatson since the crash.

News of the accident hit home with many students at Biddeford High School.

Beatson recently graduated from the school. Counselors are on hand to help students cope with the tragedy.

Principal Britton Wolfe said Mr. Dorais was a well-liked student. Wolfe also said he struggled in school.

“Chaz had a difficult life. None of us know the whole story. I think he was a good person and I think he was trying to turn things around. I think he wanted to be a good father and step up as a young man,” Wolfe said.

Though Mr. Dorais saw his infant son, Carter Caron Dorais, only a handful of times, his father said, he loved him very much.

“He loved him to death,” his father said. “You could see the glow in his eyes when Chaz held him. He had a smile from ear to ear.”

Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at: mcreamer@pressherald.com

 

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