LEBANON

Two men dead after truck veers off road, hits a tree

Two men are dead after their 2000 Chevrolet pickup truck went off the road and hit a tree early Sunday morning.

Maj. William L. King Jr. of the York County Sheriff’s Department identified the victims as 54-year-old James Ham of Lebanon and 44-year-old William Barker of Somersworth, N.H.

Barker died at the scene of the crash near Center and Upper Cross roads while Ham died while being flown by helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

The crash happened about 12:10 a.m. Sunday. Lebanon’s Assistant Rescue Chief Jason Cole said the victims did not appear to be wearing seatbelts.

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Deputies who investigated said speed and alcohol appeared to be factors, according to King.

HARPSWELL

Man rescued by fisherman after flipping boat in ocean

Officials said a California man is in stable condition after overturning his boat in the ocean off Maine.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department said 25-year-old John Alexander Eckhouse of Sherman Oaks, Calif., flipped a 14-foot Boston Whaler in Middle Bay off Harpswell around 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Authorities say a fisherman in the area heard Eckhouse’s screams for help, rescued him and brought him to shore. They said he was taken to Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick suffering from hypothermia.

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ACTON

One motorcyclist dies, another injured in crash

One motorcyclist is dead and another injured following a crash Sunday in Acton.

Maj. William L. King Jr. of the York County Sheriff’s Department said 62-year-old Girard Blais of Hampton, N.H., and 58-year-old James Dibenetto of Danvers, Mass., were riding alongside each other on separate motorcycles when they collided around 4:43 p.m.

King said Blais’ motorcycle veered off Route 109, crossed into the opposite lane of traffic and hit a guardrail. He was killed instantly.

Dibenetto’s motorcycle crashed onto the pavement. He was taken to Goodall Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

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The men were traveling with a group of riders from the New Hampshire seacoast area.

Neither motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. Speed and alcohol contributed to the crash, King said.
Route 109 was closed for more than five hours.

BLUE HILL

Deer Isle man, 31, struck by car, dies at hospital

A 31-year-old man died after being struck by a car in Blue Hill early Saturday morning.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department said Andrew Ray of Deer Isle was walking on a street about 4:30 a.m. when he was struck by a car driven by 29-year-old Kimberly Phelan, also of Deer Isle. Ray was taken to Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

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LOUDON, N.H.

Mom fine, baby gets tickets after delivery at speedway

A New Hampshire woman and her baby are doing fine after the woman gave birth in the New Hampshire Motor Speedway parking lot.

Shawna Arnold and her boyfriend began driving to a hospital when she went into labor on Friday. But when she realized she was about to give birth on the way, they made a pit stop at the racetrack parking lot in Loudon.

Arnold told WMUR-TV that she and her boyfriend delivered the baby in their car. The three were taken to a hospital by an EMT at the track.

Speedway General Manager Jerry Gappens has awarded the baby two lifelong tickets to NASCAR races.


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