Photo: Getty Images
CASTINE, Maine (WBZ NewsRadio) — Four students at Maine Maritime Academy died in an early morning car crash on Saturday. Two of the students killed in the crash were from Massachusetts.
At around 2 A.M. seven Maine Maritime Academy students were driving in a 2013 Range Rover on Route 166 when their vehicle went off the road and hit a tree causing it to erupt into flames. Four of the passengers were pronounced dead and three others survived the crash, including the driver, and were transported to a local hospital for nonlife-threatening injuries, according to Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for Maine State Police.
"I am devastated to confirm that today Maine Maritime Academy lost four of our students in a single vehicle accident early this morning. Three others were injured. Our community is grieving for these young lives and for their families. While we have lost beloved members of our student body, tonight there are four families who have lost their children. I ask for continued respect and privacy of our Maine Maritime family. Please hold these young people close to your hearts and in your prayers," Maine Maritime Academy President Jerry S Paul said in a statement.
Read More: Hundreds Of Kids Gathered For Mattapan's Breakfast with Santa Toy Giveaway
The Medical Examiner's office in Augusta identified the four victims as Brian Kenealy, 20, of York, Maine, Chase Fossett, 21, of Gardiner, Maine, Luke Simpson, 22, of Rockport, Massachusetts, and Riley Ignacio-Cameron, 20, of Aquinnah, Massachusetts, according to Maine State Police.
The driver has been identified as Joshua Goncalves-Radding, 20, of North Babylon, NY. The other two passengers who survived the crash are Noelle Tavares, 20, of North Falmouth, Massachusetts and Dominick Gecoya, 20, of Middleton, Massachusetts.
An investigation is underway.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App