STATE OF MAINE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
MAINE STATE POLICE
PRESS RELEASE
CASE #: SP15-019238
TROOPER: Troopers Corey Hafford and Chuck Michaud
TROOP: F
INCIDENT DETAILS
DATE/TIME: 3/9/15 1015 Hours
LOCATION: RT 161 – Madawaska Lake
NATURE: Head-on Crash with Multiple Fatalities
OPERATOR 1: Kimberly Lausier
AGE: 38
TOWN, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Madawaska, ME.
VEHICLE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL: 2015 / Chevrolet / Traverse
SPEED INVOLVED (Y/N): N
SEAT BELT/HELMET WORN (Y/N): Y
OPERATOR 2: Bobbi-Jo Johnston
AGE: 33
TOWN, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Fort Fairfield, ME.
VEHICLE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL: 1998 / Chevrolet / Lumina
SPEED INVOLVED (Y/N): N
SEAT BELT/HELMET WORN (Y/N): N
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
At approximately 10:15 HRS Houlton State Police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a serious head-on collision on RT 161 in Madawaska Lake in an area known locally as ‘Rainbow Cove.’ The initial reports from other motorists indicated multiple fatalities had occurred.
Fire and EMS resources from Caribou Ambulance and North Lakes Fire Department responded to the crash along with members of Troop F. Investigation revealed a southbound SUV was attempting to overtake a tractor-trailer unit when it struck a northbound sedan head-on. The driver of the SUV, Kimberly Lausier age 38 from Madawaska, was killed in the crash along with three occupants of the sedan. All were pronounced dead at the scene by EMS personnel. A passenger in the SUV, Robert Lausier age 53, survived with serious injuries to the lower extremities that are not considered life threatening. Robert Lausier was transported to Cary Medical Center in Caribou, and later transferred to EMMC in Bangor.
Killed in the sedan were: The operator, Bobbi-Jo Johnston, age 33 from Fort Fairfield. Her mother, Laurie Ann Johnston, age 52 from Carlingford New Brunswick. Also killed was Alana A. Nelson, age 2, daughter of Bobbi-Jo Johnston.
North Lakes Fire Department Personnel extricated the victims using the Jaws of Life and they were taken to Mockler Funeral Home in Caribou. Warden Alan Dudley assisted Trooper Marc Poulin in mapping and reconstructing the crash. RT 161 was closed for several hours during the investigation with traffic being detoured by North Lakes Fire Department personnel onto the Cove Rd.
State Police interviewed witnesses but have yet to speak with the operator of the tractor-trailer, who may not have realized the crash occurred. State Police are asking if someone was operating a tractor with a box style trailer southbound on RT 161 near Rainbow Cove at the time of the crash, that they contact the State Police in Houlton at 532-5400.
ASSISTING AGENCIES: North Lakes Fire Department / Caribou Ambulance / Maine Warden Service / Maine DOT
INJURED TRANSPORTED BY: Caribou Ambulance
INJURED TRANSPORTED TO: Cary Medical Center / Transferred to EMMC Bangor.
