The body of a Waldoboro man reported missing in mid-September was apparently discovered in Newcastle Oct. 26.
According to a statement from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, it is believed that Peter J. Collins, 47, may have died in a single-vehicle crash around the time he was reported missing Sept. 19.
A construction crew working on guardrails on Rt. 1 near Sherman Marsh area discovered Collins in his vehicle, a 1999 GMC Denali, Oct. 26.
Members of the crew flagged down an off-duty LCSO Sergeant and reported the discovery around 2:51 p.m. The sergeant checked the scene of the crash and quickly determined the driver, the only occupant of the vehicle, was deceased at the scene.
Working with officers from the Waldoboro Police Dept. and the Maine State Police, Deputies were able to preliminarily identify Collins. The State of Maine Medical Examiners Office will make any final determination on identity.
According to the LCSO, an initial scene evaluation indicates Collins was operating southbound on Rt. 1 in Newcastle just south of its intersection with Osprey Point Road. His vehicle apparently left the roadway as it negotiated a left hand curve in the road and went airborne in the southbound ditch, striking several trees before coming to rest.
An Accident Reconstructionist from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. No information is available at this time as to what may have been contributing factors into this crash, according to the LCSO.
As in every crash, deputies will attempt to determine if speed, alcohol, drugs or other factors contributed to this crash. Deputies are certain Collins was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.
According to the LCSO, nothing from the initial scene evaluation leads deputies to believe that Collins’ death is anything more than a tragic traffic crash. It appears this crash occurred at about the same time he was reported missing and was not discovered until Oct. 26 because of the thick woods and brush surrounding the scene.
Collins had been reported missing since about Sept. 19. The Waldoboro Police Dept. and the Maine State Police have been working jointly since this initial report in hopes of locating Collins safely.
In addition to the Waldoboro Police Dept. and the Maine State Police, several members of the Newcastle Fire Dept. also assisted LCSO Deputies at the scene. Rt. 1 traffic was disrupted in the area of the crash for several hours.
