Deadly crash near Oxford Casino raising safety concerns

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Deadly crash near Oxford Casino raising safety concerns

Two men were hit and killed by a pick-up truck on Route 26 while trying to get from the Oxford Casino to a hotel. (WGME)

OXFORD (WGME) – Two men were hit and killed by a pick-up truck on Route 26 while trying to get from the Oxford Casino to a hotel.

Their deaths are raising concerns in the area about safety.

The speed limit is 50 miles per hour and there's no crosswalk of any kind.

The casino does offer a shuttle back and forth, but police say in this case the men decided to walk instead.

Oxford police say 31-year-old Daniel Mercado and 55-year-old Ronald Nobrega were here on business from Rhode Island. Chief Jonathan Tebbetts says the men made it about halfway across Route 26 when they were hit by a pick-up truck, driven by a 70-year-old New Hampshire woman.

Tebbetts says it's a bad intersection, with poor lighting, distracting signs and no way for pedestrians to get across.

“There should be some type of pedestrian warning,” Tebbetts said. “Some signs, crosswalk even, maybe even make these traffic lights work so they have a pedestrian button, they could push and turn the lights to red.”

Changes are ultimately up to the Maine Department of Transportation. A spokesperson says in the wake of an accident like this one, officials will come out and see if any immediate changes should be made, like added signage.

In the meantime, authorities are urging visitors to take advantage of the casino’s free transportation, which is available 24 hours a day upon request.

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