By Terry Karkos,Staff Writer

CANTON – A former three-sport ahtlete at Dirigo High School died late Friday night when the Jeep he was driving rolled off Route 108 and hit a tree, State Police dispatcher Eric Kramarz said Saturday morning in Gray.

Craig Langervin, 20, of Dixfield, was driving north at 11:52 p.m. when he lost control of his 2002 Jeep Wrangler after it slid on the icy road, according to Kramarz.

“He entered a long, winding curve at a high rate of speed, went off the road, and rolled at least twice, striking a tree,” he said, reading from dispatch information gathered from investigators at the scene.

Trooper Tyler Stevenson, who is investigating the crash, could not be reached for comment on Saturday night.

Canton Fire Assistant Chief Mark Blanchette said Saturday afternoon that Langervin was pronounced dead at the scene.

Traffic was rerouted around Route 108, also known as Pleasant Street, after it was shut down for four hours in three places by Canton firefighters using three fire trucks.

“The roads were bad. There was half-an-inch of ice on them, but my truck has automatic tire chains on it, so that’s how I got there,” Blanchette said.

Route 108 in Canton was reopened to traffic by 4:30 a.m. Saturday.

Craig Langervin had presence – in a personal and physical way, recalled Dirigo High School Principal Dan Hart Saturday night.

“He was a three-sport athlete who really cared a lot about Dirigo High School, and getting involved. He had excellent school spirit.”

“But more importantly, he always had a smile on his face. He was cheerful, and wanted to be personable with the teachers and staff. He was very popular and everybody knew him,” he added.

Hart said he first met Langervin early in the boy’s freshman year.

“What stood out was his physical presence. Craig was big for his age, over 6 feet tall, with a wide body like a bodyguard. I mean that in a good way,” he added.

Hart said Langervin played soccer for three years, as either a fullback or halfback. Then, when the high school brought back its football program, he switched to that his senior year.

“I know he would have played all four years if we had had football,” he said.

Langervin also played four years of junior varsity and varsity basketball and the same with baseball. In basketball, he played the forward position.

“Sports were very important to him. Craig may not have been the headliner, the standout athlete, but being a part of the team was very important to him,” he said.

Langervin also volunteered as a student coach, helping younger children with basketball.

“Craig was also more into the social aspects of school rather than academics. We did have some meetings about his grades,” Hart said.

Langervin also was “a big cheerleader” at the girls’ games and cheered on close friends who were on the wrestling team.

“He cared about his school, and, there may have been times when he didn’t always follow the rules, but he and his friends, when they were older, would step up and let us know if they heard or saw something inappropriate. I could count on them,” Hart said.

The principal remembered talking with Langervin as recently as Christmas vacation. Hart said he was at a basketball game at the school when Langervin walked up to him.

“He said, Mr. Hart, I’m thinking about going back to school. Can you give me some applications?’ “

Hart said the young man wanted them right away, so he broke away from the game, got several applications to nearby colleges and gave them to him. Langervin said he would keep in touch.

“He had plans to go to technical school or community college,” he said.

Following today’s visiting hours from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Meader and Son Funeral Home at 3 Franklin St. in Rumford, a funeral Mass will to be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6, at St. Theresa Church off Route 17 in Mexico.

Hart said he knew that students and teachers would be attending the service, but is to also have counselors available at the high school on Monday morning for students and staff.