A Maryland man died April 9 when his Toyota Prius crashed on the Maine Turnpike in Arundel.

According to accident investigators, Denis Bryant, 65, of Bowie, Md., was driving southbound when his car drifted across three lanes and hit a tree along the side of the road.

Bryant was pronounced dead when police arrived at the scene, according to Maine State Police Public Information Officer Steve McCausland. Bryant’s wife, Patricia Bryant, who was a passenger in the car, suffered multiple injuries and was flown to Maine Medical Center in Portland by Lifeflight helicopter. As of Tuesday morning, Patricia Bryant was still at the hospital in the special care unit.

McCausland said a team of six state troopers who investigated the accident said Dennis Bryant either fell asleep or suffered from a medical problem that lead to the crash.

Online payments coming to ’Port

 Kennebunkport residents will soon be able to pay their town bills online by credit card or electronic check.

During the April 8 Kennebunkport Board of Selectmen’s meeting, Town Manager Larry Mead announced the new system that will be available before summer.

“Our goal is to get the system up and running before July 1,” Mead said.

Residents will be able to pay their property tax bill, sewer bill, parking violations, building permits and other fees through Kennebunkport’s Web site by clicking on a link.

Mead said costs for the system, called Point and Pay Service, will be passed to residents who use the service with additional fees and will not cost the town money. There will be a 2.95 percent fee for paying with a credit or debit card and a flat $2.95 fee for transferring funds from a checking account.

Mead said he knows many people won’t pay for their dog licenses online, because of the additional fees but thinks many residents will use the online payment system. 

Engineers to count Route 1 saloon traffic

 Bentley’s Saloon management is moving forward with plans to expand capacity from 180 patrons to 450.

Part of the expansion process requires the business to go through a traffic study to establish traffic patterns for Maine Department of Transportation.

On Wednesday, April 7, Bill Eaton of Eaton Traffic Engineers who represents Bentley’s, met with MDOT to discuss the traffic study.

According to Arundel Town Planner Tad Redway, both parties, Maine DOT and Bentley’s agreed to conduct the study when riders are most likely using their motorcycles. Engineers will choose three clear and mild Saturday afternoons between noon and 5 p.m. during the next several months.

In addition to the number and types of vehicles, Redway said the study will note the direction of travel as patrons arrive and depart.

“There is no facility like it (in the state) with that kind of traffic,” Redway said.

Bentley’s now has a maximum capacity of 180 people, but regularly hosts events that attract far larger crowds.

–Compiled by Suzanne Hodgson