Sheriff’s office releases identities of victims in fatal Penobscot County crashes

The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday released the names of people who died in recent motor vehicle crashes in the county. That includes a [collision involving a pedestrian](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/02/pedestrian-dies-after-being-hit-by-car-in-penobscot-county/) in Bradford on June 2 and [a two-vehicle crash](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/08/1-dead-1-injured-in-head-on-crash-in-eddington/) in Eddington on June 8. First responders were alerted to a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on Route 221 in Bradford at about 12:40 p.m. on June 2, the sheriff’s office said in a news release at the time. Related [Pedestrian dies after being hit by car in Penobscot County](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/02/pedestrian-dies-after-being-hit-by-car-in-penobscot-county/) Preliminary findings indicated that a sedan traveling south had struck the pedestrian, who was in the roadway, the sheriff’s office had said. The sheriff’s office identified the pedestrian Tuesday as Chester Michaud, 95, of Bradford. First responders performed life-saving measures, but the man was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff’s office stated previously. The crash is still under investigation, the sheriff’s office said, and no charges had been filed as of Tuesday. Advertisement On June 8, first responders were dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on Route 9 near the Eddington Fire Department and town offices around 1:10 p.m., the sheriff’s office said. A van, traveling westbound, crossed the road and struck a work vehicle that was legally parked in a breakdown lane, according to the sheriff’s office. Related [1 dead, 1 injured in head-on crash in Eddington](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/08/1-dead-1-injured-in-head-on-crash-in-eddington/) On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office identified the driver of the van, who was pronounced dead at the scene, as Wendell Thayer, 50, of Bradford. The operator of the parked vehicle was transported to the hospital and later released, the sheriff’s office said. While the investigation into the crash continues, no charges are expected to be filed, the sheriff’s office said. The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office also acknowledged the lag time in releasing the identities of those involved publicly on Tuesday. “The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to providing timely updates whenever possible while being mindful of the needs and sensitivities of the affected families, friends, and the community,” the sheriff’s office said in a social media post. “Our goal is to maintain transparency, protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, and ensure that the information released is both reliable and respectful.” Copy the Story Link Tagged: [fatal crash](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/fatal-crash/), [pedestrian accident](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/pedestrian-accident/), [penobscot county](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/penobscot-county/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-johnson) [Drew JohnsonStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-johnson) Drew is the night reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He previously covered South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth for the Sentry, Leader and Southern Forecaster. Though he is from Massachusetts,. [More by Drew Johnson](https://www.pressherald.com/author/drew-johnson)