3 seriously injured after wrong way crash in Portland

Three People Seriously Injured in Wrong‑Way Collision on I‑295 Near Tukey’s Bridge

Portland, Maine – A head‑on crash on Interstate 295 late Saturday night left three people seriously injured and forced the temporary closure of two of the highway’s four lanes. The accident occurred at about 7:15 p.m. in the southbound section of I‑295, just east of Tukey’s Bridge, according to a release from the Maine State Police.

Preliminary investigations by the State Police, Portland Police Department, and Portland Fire Department determined that the wrong‑way vehicle was an 88‑year‑old Subaru Outback driven by Ronald Ferguson of Nelson, New Hampshire. Ferguson reportedly entered the southbound lane and continued traveling north before colliding with a Mitsubishi traveling south on the same stretch of highway.

The collision was severe enough to cause significant injuries. Ferguson, his female passenger, and the Mitsubishi driver were all transported by ambulance to the Maine Medical Center in Portland, where they were treated for serious but non‑life‑threatening injuries. Two other people involved in the crash, not listed in the preliminary report, are presumed to have sustained lighter injuries, though the exact number of casualties was not disclosed in the initial statements.

I‑295 traffic was halted for approximately two hours while emergency crews worked to clear the wreckage and assess the roadway. All lanes have since reopened, and normal traffic flow has resumed.

Authorities have not yet identified the specific cause of Ferguson’s wrong‑way driving, though officials note that the vehicle entered the southbound lane by mistake. The investigation remains active, and law enforcement officials are continuing to gather evidence to determine whether any other factors contributed to the crash.

The Maine State Police and the Portland Police Department are coordinating the investigation. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.