DURHAM — An 18-year-old college student from Durham is believed to have been killed Friday in a fiery crash.
A combination of speed and driver distraction likely caused Maxwell Allen to swerve on Quaker Meeting House Road, about a half-mile south of Route 136, State Police Trooper Tyler Stevenson said. Allen's 1999 Dodge Stratus veered into the oncoming lane and swerved back to the right, where it crossed the road and struck a power pole.
The force split that pole and two others.
By the time police reached the scene, shortly after the 8:20 p.m. emergency call, the car was engulfed in flames. The extraordinary damage to the vehicle left several questions a day later, including the certain identity of the victim, Stevenson said.
"The investigation is leading us to believe (it was) Allen (who) was killed," Stevenson said. There were no passengers.
News of the tragedy moved quickly among Allen's friends, including many teens who belonged to the youth ministry at the Pathway Vineyard Church in Lewiston.
Less than two hours after the crash, youth leader Kyle Gabri was notified.
"It was shocking," Gabri said. About the same time he was told, leaders from the church reached out to Maxwell's parents, John and Jill, and his older brother, John Jr.
"As a congregation, we stand 100 percent behind each other," Gabri said.
By Saturday afternoon, at least 30 teens had gathered at the Foss Road church for a prayer session.
"We wanted to give the teens a chance to mourn and talk," Gabri said. Reactions ran from hysterical to stoic as the youths dealt with the death of someone they knew.
Maxwell was known as a person who had a dry sense of humor that he shared freely. He even performed a stand-up routine at religious retreats.
"He was very, very funny," Gabri said. "He was really loving and really honest."
During the week, he studied media at Southern Maine Community College. On nights and weekends, he was taking on more work for the youth ministry. He often ran sound equipment during youth meetings and had designed a flier for an upcoming Christmas show.
"We were giving him more leadership opportunities," Gabri said. His hope was to become a leader within the group.
Gabri and the teenagers found solace in their faith, he said.
"We believe that when you die you go to a better place," he said. "He's with the Lord at this point."
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my thoughts and prayers are
my thoughts and prayers are with his family, and I do believe that he is in a better place!
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Max was an incredible young person! I had not seen him in many years but his mom kept me updated on he and John's lives when I would see her. No matter what happened or what we believe comes after life we need to remember that this young person lost his life in a horrible crash. Our hearts go out to his family and friends.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Ok, was this really an
Ok, was this really an 18-year-old college student from Durham or not? This sentence
makes me think maybe it really is not the person they think it is? The news media should not be putting stories out there unless they are 100% correct on the identity of whom the person is.
(An 18-year-old college student from Durham is believed to have been killed Friday in a fiery crash.)
jasonp, your absolutely correct. There was no witnesses according to this story so how can they be sure of what really happened?
I send my condoleneces to the family of whoever the person that perished may be. As a parent I don't ever want to experience this difficult situation.
"We believe that when you die you go to a better place," he said. IF this is true, how come people are committing suicide by the hundreds? I hate it when people say the person is in a better place because no one knows what happens once a person dies. We have belief's but that is about it.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Just because you have a
Just because you have a problem with religion, doesn't mean everyone else does too! That is THEIR BELIEF just like YOU HAVE YOUR OWN BELIEFS! If you have a problem with religious beliefs consoling mourners, then you live in the wrong country! And I pray, yes pray, that you will never be put into those parents shoes since you will obviously have little to console you! And if you have a problem with the LSJ printing a quote or writing about this person's life in their church or about how their church fellows are reaching out to them or anything positive about christians, TOUGH!
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.I'd like to appologize for
I'd like to appologize for losing my head, taking a cheap shot, and going on a rant. I recognize that I just did what I kept telling others not to do. I am sorry.
However, the death of a loved one, especially a sudden death a young person, is a very emotional one. It is a bad time to start a religious debate over what happens after death. In this country, we have the right to find solace how we want. And, just as you are entitled to your beliefs, others are too. I would have stood up if the comment had been regarding Hindu reincarnation, or dancing around a fire at midnight, or any other religious belief regarding the afterlife.
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My comment has nothing to do with religion at all so I don't know where you come off hollering at me because you assume things?
IF any of us knew what REALLY happens when we pass on, then we can say it's a better place but until we know, how can some one say they are in a better place? The only way to really know is to pass on and once you pass on you no longer have a voice to tell any one any thing.
This has NOTHING at all to do with religion,,, notta, no way, no how. In fact it was a general statement I made. Not every one's comments are religion based.
Catholic believe you go in to purgatory... you wait and see where God wants you, in Heaven or Hell. I've heard from several Catholics this is not a place one wishes to be. This is ONE example of what ONE religion thinks. It does NOT mean I believe it or anyone else.....
Please stop with thinking everyone is against or bashing religion because some of us are not.
As for a person dying, it is ALWAYS an emotional thing.. been there done that and will many times over until I pass on. My comments left on this blog was not in ANY way, shape or form to disrespect anyone.
Thank You
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.The afterlife is a huge part
The afterlife is a huge part of religion so stop pretending it isn't. Again, just because you don't like it when people say someone is in a better place because your logic tells you otherwise, does not mean that that person can't believe in it and find solice in it without someone going all "logical" on them.
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Your a very psychologically sick individual and should seek some help.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond."A combination of speed and
"A combination of speed and driver distraction" This is not always texting, he could've seen a deer on the road and swerved to avoid it. No one will know for sure since there were no witnesses...
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