Felix Melo, 36, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was killed early Saturday morning after his Hyundai Santa Fe slammed into the back of a Ford Explorer on the Maine Turnpike in Saco. The violent collision sent both vehicles out of control, leaving Melo dead at the scene and two other people needing medical attention.
The crash happened around 4:45 a.m. Saturday, November 14, on northbound Interstate 95 near mile marker 39 in Saco, York County, according to Maine State Police.
Melo was driving a Hyundai Santa Fe when it struck the rear of a Ford Explorer traveling in the center lane. Investigators say the initial findings point to the Hyundai hitting the back of the SUV before the vehicles went in different directions.
The impact sent the Ford Explorer spinning before it came to a stop on the roadway. The Hyundai continued off the highway and entered a wooded area, where it rolled onto its side.
Melo, who was behind the wheel of the Hyundai, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 36 years old.
The Ford Explorer was carrying two Massachusetts residents, including a female driver. Both occupants received medical attention from emergency responders at the scene. Neither required transportation to a hospital.
Maine State Police dispatched a Reconstruction Team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. Investigators are working to establish what led to the Hyundai striking the Ford and the events that followed.
The crash also prompted a traffic response on the busy northbound section of the Maine Turnpike. Police initially warned motorists about possible lane closures while emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene. All lanes had reopened by Saturday morning.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and additional information will be released as it becomes available. No further details about the circumstances leading up to the collision had been announced.
For now, the crash has left one man dead, while two other people escaped without injuries serious enough to require hospitalization.