FREEPORT, Maine — Maine State Police are investigating after a man was pronounced dead from an apparent medical event that resulted in a law enforcement and EMS response along Interstate 295 in Freeport on Thursday.
Maine State Police responded at approximately 4:15 p.m. to the area of mile marker 19 southbound after callers reported a "male with blood on his face trying to flag down traffic" after he had pulled over, according to a news release from Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss.
Freeport emergency responders arrived to the scene and a passing motorist began CPR on the man who had become unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Freeport Rescue.
Major Crimes Unit South and an Evidence Response Technician also responded to the scene due to the nature of the reports, Moss said.
After speaking with family members and further investigation, Moss said it appears the man had suffered a medical event.
He will be brought to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.
The Thursday incident happened between Freeport's southernmost exit, 20, and Yarmouth's northernmost exit, 17, both of which connect to U.S. Route 1.
The town line between the two communities is around mile marker 18 of I-295 and is in the area of the Cousins River.
NEWS CENTER Maine sent crews to the area, where traffic on Route 1 was significantly backed up around 5:45 p.m. Moss said traffic was reduced to one lane for a short period of time due to the incident.
This story will be updated as information becomes available.
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