MEDWAY, ME — A devastating wrong-way collision along Interstate 95 in Penobscot County claimed the lives of two individuals on Monday night, October 12, 2026, following a high-speed incident involving a stolen vehicle. Maine State Police identified the deceased as 20-year-old Luis Mendoza of Indian Township and 67-year-old Sandra Lacombe of Medway.
According to police, the events began at approximately 9:10 p.m. when a 2011 Toyota Camry was reported stolen from the Hannaford parking lot in Houlton, Maine. Shortly afterward, authorities received reports of the vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on Interstate 95.
An officer reportedly attempted to stop the speeding vehicle, but it continued into a bridge construction zone in Medway, where northbound and southbound traffic was sharing the same roadway. The Toyota then collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Sandra.
Both drivers sustained fatal injuries and died as a result of the collision. The incident has left two families facing the painful reality of losing loved ones in circumstances that unfolded in a matter of minutes.
At just 20 years old, Luis Mendoza had much of life’s journey still ahead of him. His passing marks the loss of a young life at an age when countless possibilities, experiences, and opportunities could still have awaited him.
Sandra Lacombe, 67, had lived through many more seasons of life. Her journey, like Luis’s, was unique, shaped by experiences and relationships that cannot be fully captured in the details of a news report. Although their lives followed different paths, they were brought together in a tragic moment that ended both of their journeys.
The circumstances surrounding this collision are a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences that can follow a wrong-way crash. Beyond the police reports and roadway details are the families, friends, and loved ones who must now confront an unexpected and painful loss.
For those mourning Luis and Sandra, the days ahead may bring difficult questions and moments of profound sadness. Their absence will be felt in the lives of those who knew them, and the memories associated with their names will remain important to the people who loved them.
Every life has a story that extends far beyond the circumstances of its ending. Luis Mendoza and Sandra Lacombe deserve to be remembered with dignity and compassion, as two individuals whose deaths have left loved ones grieving and communities reflecting on the fragility of life.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of both victims. May they find strength in one another, comfort in the memories they hold dear, and peace as they navigate this heartbreaking time.
May Luis Mendoza and Sandra Lacombe rest in peace. Their lives ended tragically, but may their memories be held with compassion and never forgotten.
