NAPLES – Excessive speed may have been a factor in an accident Thursday that killed a 19-year-old freshman at St. Joseph’s College in Windham.

Front-seat passenger John Queenan Jr. of Hooksett, N.H., died several hours after being transported from the Route 114 crash via Life Flight to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

The 10 p.m. accident happened when driver Luke Chouinard, 19, of Otisfield failed to negotiate a curve at Burnell Road while traveling north on the highway, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department Captain Royce Bartlett said Friday.

Chouinard’s 1997 Honda hit a tree and went down an embankment. The car was totaled.

Chouinard, also beginning his first year of college this week at St. Joseph’s, was treated at Bridgton Hospital and released. A passenger in the rear seat, fellow St. Joseph’s freshman Kyle Rennick, 18, of Beverly, Mass., was treated at CMMC and released.

“There was no indication that alcohol was involved, and all occupants had their seat belts on,” Bartlett said.

Naples Rescue responded, as did an accident reconstruction team from the Brunswick Police Department.

“Our initial investigation shows that speed may have been a factor in this crash,” he said.

The accident is under investigation to determine if any charges will be filed.

Copy the Story Link