North Berwick woke up to heartbreak Thursday after 18-year-old Aiden Keefe, a senior at Noble High School, was killed when his pickup truck collided with an Amtrak Downeaster train. The crash happened in the afternoon near the intersection of Buffum Road and Elm Street, a spot locals know well and now won’t soon forget.
Police said Keefe was alone in the truck when it struck the train as he was turning right onto Elm Street, also known as Route 4. First responders arrived quickly, but Aiden was pronounced dead at the scene. No other vehicles were involved, and authorities have not released further details about what led to the collision.
North Berwick Police Chief Stephen Peasley said the railroad crossing gates were working properly at the time of the crash. Investigators noted that the tracks cross Elm Street at a diagonal, creating a tricky angle where Buffum Road meets the highway. Even so, officials stressed that the investigation is still ongoing.
News of Aiden’s death rippled through Noble High School almost immediately. Principal AJ Dufort shared the loss in a letter to parents, calling Aiden a valued part of the school community. He wrote that the school’s heart was with Aiden’s family and friends, and that the loss was being felt deeply across the campus.
Classes continued on Friday, but the mood was heavy. Counselors were made available throughout the day as students and staff tried to process the sudden loss of a classmate, teammate, and friend. For many, the hallways felt quieter than usual.
Beyond the school, the North Berwick community remembered Aiden for who he was off the field and outside the classroom. He played football for Noble High School and was known for showing up and working hard. At Riverside Farm Stand & Greenhouse, where he worked during the 2024 season, coworkers described him as polite, funny, and dependable.
Amtrak officials confirmed there were no injuries reported among passengers or crew aboard the Downeaster, which runs between Boston and Portland, Maine. Authorities have not said whether train service was delayed following the crash.
As investigators continue to review the scene and vehicle information, Aiden Keefe’s death stands as another painful reminder of how unforgiving train crossings can be. For now, a family mourns, a school grieves, and a town holds tight to the memory of a young life that ended far too soon.
