Speed, erratic operation blamed in turnpike crash that left 3 seriously injured

Scene of this morning's crash in Ogunquit, Maine (MSP photo)

OGUNQUIT, Maine - Three men who weren't wearing seat belts when riding in the back of commercial van were seriously iinjured on Monday when the vehicle crashed in Ongunquit.

The accident occurred around 8:10 a.m. on the Maine Turnpike in the area of mile marker 14 in Ogunquit.

Police say it appears the driver of the van was traveling northbound when he lost control on wet pavement and rolled over in the median, causing the van to spew debris including roofing nails, construction equipment and power tools onto the southbound lanes.

A Honda traveling southbound struck the debris, disabling the vehicle and deploying airbags causing minor injury to the female driver.

The driver of the white van was identified as 39-year-old Victor Miguel Cedillo Merchan of Brockton, Mass. He was not injured. There were four male passengers in the van, three of whom were not wearing seatbelts. They were taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital in New Hampshire with what were described as serious but nonlife threatening injuries.