8 People Injured in Head-On Crash In Northern Maine

Police say a driver from India who turned a corner on the wrong side of the road, as would be done in his country, caused a head-on crash in which eight people were injured, including 3 from Glenburn.

State Police say Troopers were dispatched to a report of a head-on crash in T6R6, west of Shin Pond, that involved multiple injuries. Responding Troopers found that a Nissan Altima, driven by 27-year-old Gurprasad Singh of India, was traveling west on Route 159. At the same time, a GMC Sierra towing a trailer with a 4-wheeler on it and driven by 68-year-old Douglas Kelshaw of Glenburn, was traveling east.

As Singh's vehicle came around a very sharp left hand corner, Police say the driver went into the opposite lane as they are used to doing in India. Kelshaw tried to avoid the car by moving over into the soft shoulder. Singh's vehicle struck the Sierra head-on in the shoulder of the opposite lane.

Passengers in Singh's vehicle included 29-year-old Malika Thapa, 27-year-old Reema Chila , and 22-year-old Gayatri Kakarla, all of Boston. Riding in Kelshaw's car were 65-year-old Marty Peters and 69-year-old Noreen Peters, both of Glenburn. All eight people in the crash sustained some sort of injury. All of the people in Singh's vehicle were taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center with serious injuries. Three were not wearing seatbelts.

Police say speed was not a factor. Responding were State Police, Maine Forestry, Maine Warden Service, Patten Fire and Ambulance, Island Falls Ambulance, MT Chase Fire, and Millinocket Police. The crash is still under investigation.