Police believe alcohol was a factor Saturday when a motorist crashed in the Wiscasset area, killing himself and injuring two passengers.

According to officers with the Wiscasset Police Department, 26-year-old Wiscasset resident Dane Bonang was behind the wheel of a pickup truck as it traveled along Maine Route 144. Around 2:45 a.m., Mr. Bonang apparently lost control.

Investigators say the pickup left the roadway and hit a nearby tree. Paramedics responded to the scene, but were unable to save Mr. Bonang.

His passenger, Bath resident Michael Snyder, 16, was taken to Portland’s Maine Medical Center for treatment, along with a female passenger, 16.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 1.13 fatalities occurred for every 100 million miles of travel in 2009. The rate in 1966 was 5.5 deaths per 100 million miles.

Police say a motorcyclist died Sunday during an accident in the Parsonfield area.

According to deputies with the York County Sheriff’s Department, 67-year-old Parsonfield resident Constance Wood was behind the wheel of a 2004 Buick Rendezvous sport-utility vehicle as it traveled along Federal Street (Maine State Route 25). Around 5:40 p.m., Ms. Wood made contact with a motorcycle, ridden by 41-year-old Cornish resident Shawn Smith.

Paramedics responded to the scene, but were unable to save Mr. Smith. Investigators say he lost control of the bike moments before the crash.

The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety reports that one person has died in a crash involving a motorcycle or moped in 2011.

Police say a teenage motorist was driving with only her learner’s permit on Wednesday when she crashed in the Wilton area, injuring her passenger.

According to officers with the Wilton Police Department, 19-year-old Dixiefield resident Zachary Canon was behind the wheel of  a 2000 Ford Explorer sport-utility vehicle as it traveled east along U.S. Route 2 near Dryden. As Mr. Canon approached the junction with Maine Route 156 and Maine Route 4, around 9:25 p.m., he made contact with an eastbound 1998 Volkswagen Beetle, driven by 16-year-old Gray resident Alexa Stigam as she attempted to merge.

Paramedics responded to the scene and transported a passenger in the Beetle, 17-year-old Wilton resident Douglas Fournier, to Franklin Memorial Hospital for treatment of back injuries. Neither Mr. Canon nor Alexa was hurt.

Officers cited Alexa for driving outside the limits of a learner’s permit because she was carrying a traveler who was not a family member. Impact Teen Drivers was formed in 2008 to stop reckless and distracted driving among teens. In its mission as an advocate for the victims of traffic accidents, FindMyAccident has partnered with Impact Teen Drivers to protect young drivers in Maine and across the United States.

Police say a female motorist crashed Saturday in the Hampden area, killing her passenger.

According to officers with the Hampden Police Department, Orrington resident Sarah Courtney, 33, was behind the wheel of a sport-utility vehicle as it traveled along Bog Road. Some time during the evening hours, Ms. Courtney apparently lost control.

Investigators say the SUV veered off the roadway and flipped. Paramedics responded to the scene and transported passenger and Hermon resident Sarah Easton, 28, to Eastern Maine Medical Center, but doctors were unable to save her.

Ms. Courtney was taken to the same hospital for lesser injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 1.13 fatalities occurred for every 100 million miles of travel in 2009. The rate in 1966 was 5.5 deaths per 100 million miles.

Two travelers was injured Thursday during a rear-end crash in the Jay area, police say.

Officers with the Jay Police Department report that 62-year-old Livermore Falls resident Benjamin Stimans was behind the wheel of a 2004 Ford Ranger pickup truck as it traveled south along Route 4. Around 11:15 a.m., Mr. Stimans came upon the scene where 51-year-old Jay resident Matthew Gaudet had stopped to talk to another subject.

Investigators say Mr. Stimans smashed into the back of Mr. Gaudet’s silver 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. Paramedics responded to the scene and transported Mr. Gaudet to Franklin Memorial Hospital for treatment of head injuries.

Mr. Stimans, meanwhile, was taken to the same hospital for scrapes and shoulder injuries. Maine’s Bureau of Highway Safety attributes rear-end collisions to two factors: Inattention or distraction and following the vehicle ahead too closely.

Police say a traveler was injured Friday during an accident in the Windsor area.

Officers with the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department report that an unknown motorist was behind the wheel of a vehicle as it traveled along Augusta-Rockland Road (Maine Route 17). Around 10:05 a.m., he crashed for unknown reasons.

Paramedics responded to the scene and treated one subject for undisclosed injuries. No names or vehicle descriptions have been released.

The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety reports that travelers sustained serious injury in 978 accidents in 2007.

Police say a traveler was injured Tuesday during an accident in the Monmouth area.

According to officers with the Monmouth Police Department, an unidentified motorist was behind the wheel of a vehicle as it traveled through the area around 7:45 a.m. As the driver approached the corner of U.S. Route 202 and North Maine Street, he crashed for unknown reasons.

Officers have confirmed that at least one person was hurt. The incident remains under investigation.

The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety reports that travelers sustained serious injury in 978 accidents in 2007.

Police say an unlicensed driver was involved in a collision Sunday in the Litchfield area.

According to deputies with the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department, 27-year-old Monmouth resident Virginia Marla Marston was behind the wheel of a vehicle as it traveled through the area around 9:55 a.m. As Ms. Marston approached the intersection of Hallowell Road and Libby Road, she crashed for unknown reasons.

It is unclear whether anyone was hurt. Officers responded to the scene and discovered that Ms. Marston was driving after having her license suspended.

The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety reports that travelers sustained serious injury in 978 accidents in 2007.

Police say a sedan made contact with a piece of heavy equipment Monday in the Jefferson area.

According to the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department, an unidentified motorist from Jefferson, 20, was behind the wheel of a 1995 Kenworth semi as it traveled west along Maine Route 32 (Augusta Road), pulling a trailer. At an unknown hour, the driver observed an eastbound 1997 Buick Park Avenue sedan veer into oncoming traffic.

Investigators say the driver of the Park Avenue, 36, made contact with the trailer, loaded with an excavator. It is unclear whether anyone was hurt.

The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety reports that travelers sustained serious injury in 978 accidents in 2007.

Police say a motorist was injured Monday during an accident in the Damariscotta area.

According to officers with the Damariscotta Police Department, 59-year-old Jefferson resident Alton C. Newell was behind the wheel of a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck as it traveled west along Belvedere Road. Mr. Newell approached U.S.Route 1, around 2:25  p.m., stopped for a traffic signal, then proceeded through the intersection.

Investigators say that’s when he was hit by a northbound Mercedes driven by 66-year-old Waldoboro resident Robert C. Morse Jr. Paramedics responded to the scene and treated Mr. Newell for neck injuries and a shoulder laceration.

Mr. Morse escaped unhurt. The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety reports that travelers sustained serious injury in 978 accidents in 2007.