James Brown and Dwayne Campbell of Waterville, Maine die in fatal Waterville interstate crash

James Brown and Dwayne Campbell of Waterville, Maine die in fatal Waterville interstate crash

Fatal Waterville interstate crash deaths of James Brown and Dwayne Campbell of Waterville, Maine – Obituary

Two Maine Department of Transportation employees, James Brown, 60, and Dwayne Campbell, 51, were killed Tuesday morning after a chain-reaction crash inside a work zone on Interstate 95 in Waterville, authorities confirmed.

Maine State Police said the deadly incident occurred shortly after 9:35 a.m. in the southbound lanes near mile marker 127. Crews from MaineDOT had closed a travel lane at the end of the Kennedy Memorial Drive on-ramp using cones and posted signage while bridge construction work was underway.

Investigators determined that a gray Kia minivan entered the area from Conifer Road and failed to stop at a posted stop sign before attempting to merge into the left southbound lane of I-95. The minivan was struck by a southbound tractor-trailer, causing the vehicle to be pushed into the active construction zone.

The impact sent the minivan into three MaineDOT workers who were performing their duties at the site. Police said Brown and Campbell were thrown over the bridge and onto Kennedy Memorial Drive below. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

A third MaineDOT worker was also hit and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Authorities said the injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening.

The minivan driver was identified as Samantha Tupper, 34, of Augusta. She was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Two young children riding in the minivan were not hurt. The driver of the tractor-trailer was also uninjured.

Governor Janet Mills and MaineDOT Acting Commissioner Dale Doughty issued statements expressing condolences to the families, coworkers, and loved ones of the fallen workers, emphasizing the dangers roadway crews face while maintaining Maine’s infrastructure.

The crash prompted the closure of all southbound lanes of I-95 for several hours as investigators processed the scene. Portions of Kennedy Memorial Drive were also shut down to allow for emergency response and cleanup.

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.