Winthrop, Maine — A tight-knit Maine community is in shock after a man from nearby Pittston was struck and killed by a pickup truck on a busy stretch of Route 202 Wednesday evening. Friends and neighbors are still trying to make sense of how an ordinary drive home turned into a tragic loss.
Around 5:57 pm near the Winthrop Veterinary Clinic, a black 2015 Dodge pickup truck struck 44-year-old Eric O. Stinson as he walked along the road. The driver, a 51-year-old man from Augusta, was heading east when the collision happened. Emergency crews rushed to the scene and closed a section of the highway for more than three hours as first responders worked and investigators looked over the scene.
Stinson was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta with serious injuries. Despite medical efforts, he died later that night. The suddenness of his death has left a void in the hearts of people who knew him as a devoted family man and long-time member of his community. His family has asked for privacy as they grieve and remember him for his warmth and quiet kindness.
Police, including the Maine State Police and Monmouth officers, are working with the Winthrop Police Department to piece together what led to the crash. So far, there’s no word on charges against the driver, and investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause. The Kennebec-Somerset District Attorney’s Office has been notified and is part of the ongoing review.
People who live in Winthrop talk about how heartbreaking this feels. For many, Stinson was more than a name on a report — he was a familiar face on local streets and at community events. Messages of sympathy spilled across social media and into conversations at local shops, with neighbors holding onto good memories of a man taken too soon.
Officials are urging anyone who might have seen what happened or has any dashcam footage from that evening to get in touch with the Winthrop Police Department. Even small bits of information could help clarify the moments leading up to the crash.
Family members have not released a public statement yet, but close friends describe Stinson as someone who cared deeply about his community. In quiet moments now, people are lighting candles, sharing stories, and comforting one another as Winthrop tries to heal from this unexpected loss.
