DURHAM – Two Durham teens out for a ride Saturday night that resulted in a serious crash remained hospitalized Sunday in the critical care unit at Central Maine Medical Center.

Timothy Johnson and Robert Brown, both 16, were taken to the Lewiston hospital after a high-speed crash shortly after 9:30 p.m. Saturday on Route 136. According to the Maine State Police, the crash snapped a utility pole into three pieces, brought down power lines and left local people in the dark for several hours.

Maine State Trooper Tyler Stevenson said neither teen was wearing a seat belt. The boys were ejected from the vehicle and were unconscious at the scene when emergency personnel arrived, Stevenson said. A LifeFlight helicopter and Durham Fire and Rescue took them to the hospital.

Stevenson said it is believed that Johnson was northbound on Route 136, about 5 miles north of Freeport, driving an unregistered full-size 1990 Chevrolet pickup at an “extremely high rate of speed.” The crash occurred just past the Route 9 intersection.

Stevenson said eyewitness reports estimate the truck’s speed between 80 and 100 miles per hour. The truck careened off the right shoulder, hit the utility pole, brought down power lines, and continued on for several hundred feet before rolling over, throwing both teens from the truck.

Stevenson blamed speed, not potholes, for the accident. He said pavement in that area is in good condition and it is a 35-mile speed zone.

“They had been working on this truck and it seems they were out test driving it,” Stevenson said, adding that, “There are indications that alcohol was involved.”

Blood tests were taken at the hospital, but results are not yet available. Due to seriousness of their injuries and conditions, police have not questioned either teen. The hospital declined to release any information about either boy’s condition, but Stevenson confirmed that their injuries were considered life-threatening.

The crash closed Route 136 for more than five hours as investigators pieced together the series of events leading to the crash, work done by specially trained reconstruction and forensic experts. Stevenson said the crash remains under investigation.

Staff writer Andie Hannon contributed to this report.