Vehicle Submerged After I-295 Crash in West Gardiner; Driver Injured, MSP Investigating

September 14, 2025

By: Scanner Alerts Media Group

A vehicle left I-295 southbound at the West Gardiner/Gardiner line early Sunday and entered the Cobbosseecontee Stream beneath the bridge, prompting an immediate response from a Maine State Police trooper and a follow-up investigation into the cause of the crash.

According to the release, at approximately 7:00 a.m. a Troop I trooper responded to the report of a vehicle off the roadway and submerged. Trooper Tom Bureau arrived within minutes, was told the vehicle had not been seen since it crashed, and entered the water after removing his duty belt and protective equipment. He swam about seven feet down and located the vehicle but could not open the door due to oil in the water. After about five minutes in the stream, he learned the driver had safely escaped and swam to a nearby residence.

The preliminary investigation indicates the driver, 27-year-old Brandon Nale of Winslow, fell asleep while driving. His 2020 Audi sedan left the roadway to the left, traveled down an embankment between the guardrails, struck a sign and a concrete barrier, and then entered the stream. Nale was transported to Maine General Hospital in Augusta with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Maine State Police Dive Team assisted in recovering the vehicle. The left lane of I-295 was shut down for approximately one hour during the recovery. Agencies assisting at the scene included Gardiner Fire & Rescue, West Gardiner Fire, Maine DOT, and AC Towing.

Credit: Maine State Police