TRAGEDY IN LEWIS TOWN: Multi-Vehicle Crash Leaves 5 Dead, Several Injured on Main Street
Lewis town , Maine – In one of the deadliest traffic incidents in the city’s recent history, a devastating multi-vehicle collision occurred late Friday afternoon on Main Street, leaving five people dead and at least nine others injured. The crash involved a semi-truck, three passenger vehicles, and a motorcycle, causing chaos and gridlock in the downtown area for hours.
According to Lewiston Police Department, the accident happened around 4:10 p.m. near the intersection of Main and Frye Street, a notoriously busy junction during rush hour. Preliminary investigations suggest that the semi-truck, traveling at high speed, lost control while approaching a red light and plowed into a line of waiting vehicles.
Witnesses described a scene of terror and confusion. “It sounded like an explosion,” said Jenna Brooks, a local barista who was working nearby. “I saw cars spinning, people screaming, smoke everywhere. It was horrifying.” Several vehicles were pushed onto the sidewalk, one reportedly flipping onto its roof.
Emergency services responded within minutes, with over a dozen ambulances, fire crews, and police units on the scene. The intersection was closed off completely as rescue teams worked to extricate passengers trapped in the wreckage. One firefighter described the scene as “carnage — like something out of a war zone.”
Among the victims were a local high school teacher, a father of two, and a recent college graduate. Names have not been released pending family notifications. Several of the injured were airlifted to Central Maine Medical Center, with at least three reported in critical condition as of Saturday morning.
Investigators are now focusing on whether mechanical failure or driver impairment contributed to the accident. The truck involved is registered to a shipping company based out of Massachusetts, and its driver, who survived with minor injuries, is currently being questioned. Toxicology tests are underway.
Mayor Carlene Dubois held a press conference Saturday morning, declaring the weekend a “period of mourning” for the city. “This is an unspeakable tragedy that has shaken our community to its core,” she said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those we’ve lost.”
A vigil is being planned for Sunday evening in Kennedy Park, where residents will gather to honor the victims and support the survivors. As investigations continue, Lewiston is left grappling with the sudden loss—and demanding answers for how such a disaster could have happened in the heart of the city.