Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD — The Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta has confirmed the identities of three individuals killed in a two-vehicle crash on the North Caribou Rd. in Fort Fairfield on Nov. 13. “On Dec. 1, the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta, using DNA samples from the immediate family of the victims involved in the Nov. 13 fatal accident on the North Caribou Rd., confirmed identification of the three individuals killed as the result of the accident,” said Sgt. Shawn Newell, Fort Fairfield Police Department, lead investigator.
The deceased were identified as James Alley Jr., 35, Ronald McEachern, 39, and Heidi Boulier, 36, said Newell. All were residents of Fort Fairfield.
“Boulier and McEachern were passengers in Alley’s Ford pick-up truck when Alley’s vehicle veered into the oncoming lane of a log truck being operated by Scott Sherman, of Masardis. All three people in Alley’s vehicle were killed instantly,” said Newell.
As the result of the crash, both vehicles caught fire, with all three victims being burned beyond recognition, Newell said. Sherman sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Officials in Augusta used DNA to confirm the identity of the three individuals killed in the crash.
“Blood and tissue samples from the victims were sent to the CMEO in Augusta. DNA from the victims was compared to oral DNA samples obtained from their blood relatives. The positive matches were then confirmed,” explained Newell.
Newell said although local officials knew who the victims likely were, identification couldn’t officially be made until the medical examiner made confirmation.
“We were confident we knew who the victims were but had to wait for positive identification from the CMEO before releasing the names of the deceased,” said Newell.
The accident remains under investigation, according to Newell, to try to determine why Alley’s vehicle veered into the oncoming lane of the log truck.
Funeral services for the deceased were held recently to help provide closure for friends and family.
