A reconstructionist with the Maine State Police is working to determine the cause of single vehicle accident that left a Jefferson man dead in the early hours of Sept. 25, according to Chief Deputy Ryan Reardon, of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office.
A call reporting the accident as a single vehicle on fire at the intersection of Routes 32 and 17 came in at 3:40 a.m. on Sept. 25, Reardon said.
“Windsor rescue showed up shortly thereafter, I think it was 11 minutes, which is a very good response time,” he said.
The driver, unrecognizable even as a male or female by emergency responders due to burns, was later identified through medical and dental records as Devan Basinet, 23, of Jefferson, Reardon said.
The vehicle itself was so damaged by the fire that most of the vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Numbers and license plate numbers were destroyed, Reardon said.
“Those were melted,” he said.
Through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, a similar vehicle was tracked down, and through items found scattered along the road from the accident, Basinet’s parents were tracked down, Reardon said.
An autopsy performed at the medical examiner’s office that afternoon identified Basinet, and confirmed the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head and torso or trunk, not from the fire, Reardon said.
“The vehicle struck a utility pole, flipped into some trees where it came to rest down an embankment,” he said.
What caused the accident is not yet known as the reconstructionist’s reports are not yet complete, Reardon said. Alcohol containers, cans, were found in the vehicle, but had not been opened, he said.
Currently Basinet’s whereabouts during the time after 9 p.m. the previous night until the accident are unknown, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Deputy Jeremy Day at 623-3614 extension 1803, Reardon said.
