SACO — A 17-year-old Saco teen has died and two others were injured when the car they were in crashed into a tree on Mast Hill Road early Wednesday morning, Feb. 22.
Saco Police were called by a resident around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday who reported hearing a loud bang and someone screaming for help, said Saco Deputy Police Chief Corey Huntress.
“Responding officers located a Black 2011 Ford Fusion that had gone off the roadway, crashing into a large tree,” Huntress wrote in a news release. “Officers located a juvenile female walking in the roadway who had been a passenger in the vehicle. Officers further located two other occupants of the vehicle trapped inside.” They were extracted by Saco firefighters.
Daniel Abbott, 17, of Saco, who was in the front passenger seat, was found deceased in the vehicle, said Huntress.
The driver, Riley Tulley, 18, also of Saco, was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland with life- threatening injuries.
The female juvenile who had been a passenger in the rear seat of the car was taken to Maine Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Huntress said the initial investigation shows the car was traveling south on Mast Hill Road shortly after passing a vehicle and then left the roadway, striking a tree.
“Speed is considered a factor in this crash,” said Huntress.
Mandy Demers, who lives near the crash site, called 911 to report the incident.
“I woke up and heard someone screaming just really loud, blood-curdling screams for help,” Demers told News Center Maine. “I came outside to see what was going on, and we saw a girl running up our driveway and onto our deck screaming for help … I’ve been living here for about seven years, and this is the third major accident that’s almost been right in front of our house.”
“I’ve got kids that are teenagers. I feel bad for the parents. I feel bad for the community. This is horrible … I don’t ever want to get that call as a police chief, and I don’t know what else to say other than to slow down. It is not worth crashing a car and losing a life. Not worth it,” Saco Police Chief Jack Clements told News Center Maine.
Abbott was an honor roll student at Thornton Academy, where the community is mourning his tragic death, Headmaster Rene Menard said in a statement.
“There are no words to describe the loss felt by our entire school community and our thoughts are with Daniel’s family,” Menard said. “Riley Tulley is also a senior at Thornton. He and his family are in our thoughts and prayers and we are hopeful for Riley’s recovery.”
Menard said the school has contacted parents and students, including those close to Abbott and Tulley, to offer resources and support through school counselors and community partners.
An initial investigation showed Tulley was driving south on Mast Hill Road and left the road after passing another vehicle.
The crash is being investigated by the Saco Police Department and a crash reconstruction team from the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office. Saco Police Department is asking members of the public who may have information related to the crash or witnessed it to contact them at 207-284-4535.
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