Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Funeral home van driver Richard Charest of Winthrop, Maine, 59, killed when a Hummer driven by 58-year-old Donald Asselin of Sabattus struck the van from behind several hundred feet off the road, sending it down an embankment where it hit a stand of trees




GREENE, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- 


The driver of a funeral home van was doing his job transporting a body when he was killed in a crash.

Richard Charest of Winthrop was 59 years old. He worked for the Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home in Winthrop.

Charest was bringing a body back to the funeral home in a Ford Flex minivan on Monday night by way of Route 202 in Greene. Maine State Police said a Hummer driven by 58-year-old Donald Asselin of Sabattus struck the van from behind on 202 as it crested a hill near the intersection of Daggett Hill Road.

The van careened several hundred feet off the road, down an embankment and hit a stand of trees. Troopers said Charest died at the scene. Both he and the body he was transporting remained in the van until responders removed them. Troopers said Asselin sustained minor injuries and did not need immediate medical attention.

A detour around the crash lasted about three hours. Investigators planned to return the next day to gather further information. Witnesses to the crash can share their observations with police by calling (207) 657-3030.