JAY — Police say a local man died late Sunday as the result of blunt head injuries caused by a motor vehicle accident.

Peter Benoit, 56, was a passenger in a car driven by his wife, Barbara
Benoit, 50. She lost control of the Subaru Outback on Route 133 near
the Beedy Road intersection in Jay, while heading south, police Chief
Larry White Sr. said Tuesday.

The car skidded and flipped as it struck a guardrail and landed back on its wheels, White said.

At some point, Peter Benoit’s head and part of his body came in contact
with the guardrail and the car. He died within minutes of the crash
from severe injuries, White said.

For reasons unknown at this time, Barbara Benoit drove the vehicle,
after the crash, to their Davis Road home, which is about a half-mile
from the crash site, White said. The accident was reported at about
10:42 p.m. to police, and a NorthStar Emergency Services ambulance was
called shortly after that to the Benoits’ home. Ambulance personnel
determined that Benoit was dead, White said.

The accident remained under investigation Tuesday, White said.

Once all of the information is collected, including the Maine Medical
Examiner’s determination, the police report will be sent to the
Franklin County District Attorney’s Office for review of possible
charges, which is standard procedure for any fatal accident, White said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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