Two Union Brothers Killed in Construction Site Crash in Waterville

Our hearts are with the families of Maine Department of Transportation workers James Brown, 60, and Dwayne Campbell, 51, both of Waterville, who were tragically killed in a vehicle crash that shut down the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 near Exit 127 and the Oakland town line on Tuesday. Brown and Cambpell, both members of the Maine Service Employees Association (MSEA-SEIU 1989), were working on a bridge construction project when a minivan failed to stop at the posted sign and tried to pull into the open passing lane and was struck by a tractor trailer traveling south, according to a Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson. The impact of the crash propelled the two men over the bridge onto Kennedy Memorial Drive below. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

“Today we mourn the tragic deaths of two of our members; they died doing their jobs for the Maine DOT on Interstate 95 in Waterville,” said Mark Brunton, President of MSEA-SEIU 1989. “While we’re working to get more details on what happened, we implore motorists to always exercise extreme caution and pay close attention while driving through high work zones. MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 is determined to do everything within our power to demand safe working conditions for all members and prevent these kinds of tragedies from ever happening again.”

According to the Morning Sentinel, the Maine Turnpike Authority found that nearly nine out of ten drivers on the Maine Turnpike sped through active work zones last summer. In surveys of 13 work zones from July to September, roughly 88% of vehicles exceeded the posted limit, with about 44% moving past active crews at speeds at least 21 mph higher than the posted limit, according to the authority. Statewide, 16 people were killed in work zone crashes between 2020 and 2024, according to the authority.