PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A 56-year-old Presque Isle man died Sunday afternoon after he was ejected from the vehicle he was riding in when it was struck from behind on Centerline Road, according to the Presque Isle Police Department.
Doctors pronounced Justin Brown Jr. of Presque Isle dead at Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital in Presque Isle, Sgt. Joey Seeley said in a press release. Brown, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the 2005 Jeep Liberty his mother was driving when a Subaru struck it from behind, Seeley reported.
Brown’s mother, Betty Brown, 75, of Easton was slowing down in traffic while heading south on Centerline Road at about 2:20 p.m. as a 2016 Subaru, which Jason Ireland, 46, of Presque Isle was driving in the same direction, failed to stop fast enough and hit the Jeep, Seeley said.
“The front of Ireland’s vehicle struck the rear of Brown’s vehicle, which caused both vehicles to roll over onto opposite sides of the roadway,” Seeley said in the press release.
The crash ejected Justin Brown from the vehicle and he died of his injuries. First responders transported Betty Brown, who had been wearing a seatbelt, to the hospital where she was admitted with injuries that were not considered life threatening, according to police. Ireland also was injured but refused medical treatment, police reported. The accident destroyed both vehicles, which had to be towed from the scene.
The roadway was shutdown from the Jamieson Road to the Route 10 intersection for about 3.5 hours while police investigated.
While the investigation is continuing, police said in the press release that “it appears speed and alcohol were contributing factors in the crash.” As is standard in all fatal accidents, blood samples were obtained from each driver.
Once the investigation is completed, the police report will be presented to the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office to review for possible criminal charges.
Editor’s note: This updated article contains new information from police who sent a corrected press release to indicate the accident happened Sunday.
