Jacob Brown, the assistant principal at Scarborough High School in Maine, died after fleeing from state troopers and crashing his vehicle into a wooded area on September 13. According to Maine State Police, Brown was driving on Interstate 295 in Yarmouth when officers attempted to pull him over due to reports of erratic driving. Instead of stopping, Brown sped away, leading troopers on a three-mile chase before his Jeep Wrangler left the road and crashed into the woods, where it caught fire.
Authorities reported that Brown was ejected from his SUV during the crash. Emergency responders pulled him away from the burning vehicle and attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police indicated that “Preliminary investigation indicates that speed and alcohol were contributing factors in the crash,” according to their statement.
Scarborough Public Schools Superintendent Diane Nadeau announced Brown’s death on September 14. “Mr. Brown was a beloved member of our school community, whose care and commitment touched the lives of many students, staff, and families,” Nadeau said in her statement.
Classes at Scarborough High School were canceled on September 15 so students and staff could gather for support following Brown’s death.
Brown had served as assistant principal since 2020. Before taking this role, he coached at Scarborough High School and worked as athletic and activities director at Scarborough Middle School, as reported by WMTW.
Jillian St. Louis, a family friend, described him as “always so kind, so caring,” according to WMTW. She added: “I was devastated. Unbelievably tragic, and I think it’s going to be hard to find out what all the details were exactly. I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of judgment and a lot of thoughts imposed on what actually happened. Will we truly ever know? I’m not sure. But at the end of the day, a really great life was lost and I think that’s where the focus needs to be.”
Brown also coached youth hockey for Biddeford Youth Hockey Association, which acknowledged his contributions both on and off the ice.
According to Press Herald coverage, Brown had been passionate about hockey since childhood and became a successful coach as an adult. Jake Rutt, who coached with Brown, told Press Herald: “His team always had the identity of playing very hard… Not only did his teams buy into the game plan and what they were trying to accomplish, but it was always a very tight-knit group that he was able to foster in every locker room that he coached.”
Scarborough is located southwest of Portland.
