ALBION, ME — A small Maine community is mourning an unimaginable tragedy after twin brothers Bradley and Noah were struck and killed by a suspected impaired driver while being pushed in a stroller by their mother, Mollie Egold, on Friday. The senseless crash on Hussey Road has left Albion residents in deep sorrow and anger as they struggle to understand how such a horrific incident could occur in broad daylight.
According to investigators, Mollie Egold was walking to a local store with her two young sons when a vehicle struck them from behind. The driver then fled the scene, leaving the mother and her children critically injured on the roadside.
Local resident Rocky Fuller, who lives nearby, was among the first to come upon the devastating scene.
“I see her laying there and the two kids laying over there,” Fuller said. “I immediately called 911.”
Five-year-old Bradley was pronounced dead at the scene. His twin, Noah, was airlifted to Maine Medical Center, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday. Their mother, Mollie, remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
The community has rallied around the Egold family with messages of support and fundraising efforts. A GoFundMe page created by friends has been flooded with donations and heartfelt messages as neighbors try to help ease the burden of funeral costs and medical bills.
Longtime friend and coworker Elsie Barnett shared,
“It’s awful. She was just going to the store for the kids. I couldn’t believe it when I got the text. How does something like this even happen?”
The driver, 44-year-old Benjamin Lancaster, has since been arrested and charged with:
- Two counts of manslaughter
- Three counts of aggravated criminal OUI (Operating Under the Influence)
- Three counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury or death
Lancaster appeared in court on Monday in Kennebec County, where his bail was set at $100,000. Conditions of his release include a ban on driving, using drugs or alcohol, submitting to random testing, and no contact with the victims’ family.
Local residents are struggling with grief and outrage. Many, like Fuller, are demanding accountability.
“You can see up the road for a quarter of a mile,” he said. “There’s no way this should have happened. And he left them. He should be held responsible.”
Barnett echoed the pain shared by so many in the community:
“Drinking and driving—stay home. You’re not just risking your life. You’re destroying others. A mother, two boys… It’s horrific.”
As Albion grieves the lives of two beautiful young children and prays for the recovery of their mother, this tragedy serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the irreversible consequences of impaired and reckless driving.
Bradley and Noah’s light was stolen far too soon. May their memory live on in the hearts of everyone they touched, and may justice be fully served.
Rest in peace, sweet boys.
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