Down East man dies after crashing van on bridge

A man from the Washington County town of Harrington died on Saturday after crashing his van on a bridge in the central Maine town of Benton.

Maine State Police troopers were called to the scene of a single-vehicle crash at about 9 p.m. Saturday on the Interstate 95 bridge over the Kennebec River, state police said in a news release.

A police investigation found that 41-year-old Jed Carpenter of Harrington was driving south when he lost control of his 2006 Ford Econoline van and hit the bridge rail. Carpenter was not wearing a seatbelt, according to police, and was partially ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Carpenter was alone in the van. Police said speed and alcohol appeared to be factors in the crash.