2 dead after 100 mph Maine police chase ends in crash

Two people were killed on Monday night in Livermore, Maine after a high speed police chase ended in a car crash, the local sheriff said.

A deputy from the sheriff’s office parked at Turner Town Office noticed a vehicle traveling north on Route 4 at high speed with a loud exhaust around 10:30 p.m., Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.  

The deputy attempted to catch up to the vehicle, determined to be a blue 2013 Audi Q5, which was driving over 100 mph and was passing other vehicles, the sheriff’s office said. 

Despite activating emergency lights, the deputy was unable to get close enough to the vehicle, and the attempt to catch up to it was “terminated,” the statement said.  

Shortly after, the deputy came across a single vehicle crash in the 1800 block of Federal Road, officials said.

The crash, which occurred in the 1800 block of Federal Road, Livermore, happened after the vehicle became airborne after it struck a mailbox, hit two utility poles, and collided with a tree, the statement said. 

The two occupants were ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene of their injuries, officials said. 

The victims were identified as 37-year-old David Banville, of Wilton, and 31-year-old Molly Hinkel, of Jay, the sheriff’s office said. 

The second utility pole broke after it was struck, and its wires were strewn across Federal Road. The road reopened Tuesday around 4:50 a.m. after the pole was replaced and repaired, officials said.