George Vandenburgh Obituary, Death – A tragic wrong-way crash on a Maine highway claimed the life of an elderly driver Friday morning. Authorities say 86-year-old George Vandenburgh of Portland was traveling in the wrong direction when his vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer, resulting in his death at the scene.
Maine State Police reported that Vandenburgh’s car was first spotted around 6 a.m., heading the wrong way on the Maine Turnpike in Scarborough. The vehicle then continued onto Interstate 295, passing through toll booths in South Portland before the fatal crash occurred. The collision took place near Exit 4, where Vandenburgh’s northbound vehicle crashed into a southbound tractor-trailer.
Emergency responders arrived quickly, but Vandenburgh did not survive the crash. The truck’s driver was transported to Maine Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash caused significant traffic disruptions, leading to a closure of I-295 in both directions for several hours while authorities investigated the scene. Officials have not yet determined why Vandenburgh was driving the wrong way. The Maine State Police continue to investigate the incident.
