Lewiston — A quiet neighborhood on Juniper Drive turned into a scene of heartbreak late Thursday night when a single‑vehicle crash claimed the life of 49‑year‑old Jack Caldwell. Around 11:35 p.m. on January 29, Caldwell was driving his red 2004 Saturn Vue southbound when the vehicle veered off the west side of the road and struck a tree with force. First responders rushed to the scene after neighbors called in the crash, doing all they could to save him.
Emergency crews worked under the glow of flashing lights, performing life‑saving measures at the roadside before Caldwell was loaded into an ambulance and taken to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. Doctors and nurses fought to help him, but his injuries were too grave, and he was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after arrival.
Police tape stretched across the 2900 block of Juniper Drive early Friday as the Lewiston Police Department’s Major Collision Investigation Team began piecing together what led to the crash. Traffic was diverted for about two hours while officers and crash investigators documented the scene and gathered evidence. No details have been released yet about why the SUV left the road.
Friends and neighbors describe Caldwell as someone who lit up a room with warmth and generosity. In a community still feeling the shock of losing a familiar face, many have shared memories of his kindness and moments spent together. For people who knew him, the pain is not just about a life lost but about the absence of a presence that mattered.
“This is a loss that’s going to be felt for a long time,” said one neighbor, remembering Caldwell’s easy smile and willingness to help anyone in need. Others spoke of his laughter echoing through gatherings and the quiet way he cared for those close to him.
Caldwell’s family issued a brief statement thanking first responders and community members for their support and requesting privacy as they grieve. They asked that anyone moved to honor his memory do so by showing kindness to someone else, a tribute they say reflects how he lived his life.
As the investigation continues, police have urged anyone who may have seen the vehicle before the crash or witnessed anything unusual to come forward. For now, the focus in Lewiston remains on remembering a man whose life, though cut tragically short, left a lasting imprint on those around him.
