Friends of a Jay man who died early Thursday morning in a single-vehicle crash in Wilton say he was a dedicated father who devoted time and attention to his children’s activities.
Dennis Hanson, 37, of Jay, a father of three girls ages 4 to 10, was driving home from work shortly after midnight along icy Route 156 west of McCrillis Corner Road when his vehicle struck a utility pole, according to Wilton Police Chief Heidi Wilcox.
Members of the central Maine gymnastics community recalled that Hanson was a willing volunteer and involved father who gave his time to help at the gymnastics center where his girls are members.
Carol Hamilton-Brewer, owner of Decal Gymnastics, said two of Hanson’s daughters are involved in the sport, and he could always be counted on to lend a hand, set up for meets and assist with whatever else needed done.
“Anytime we needed anything, we just picked up the phone and he was there,” she said.
Hanson had three daughters, Jaiden, Rachel and Faith, according to Hamilton-Brewer. His wife, Kelli, works at Maine-ly Gymnastics, which is owned by Hamilton-Brewer’s daughter Delani Evans.
Hamilton-Brewer said Hanson made it a priority to help the gymnastics club because he wanted to support his family’s activities.
“Family was important to him. Anything his kids were involved with was something that was important to him,” she said.
Hamilton-Brewer said Hanson’s positive attitude and humor “could make any situation fun,” even when Decal Gymnastic’s former Farmington gymnasium flooded in January.
“Like when we had the flood in Farmington, he could make any situation fun with just a one-liner or a smile,” she said.
Wilcox said in a news release that Hanson was driving west toward Route 133 around 12:35 a.m., when his 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer went off the road, rolled over and struck a utility pole. The pole was broken and power lines were knocked down.
Wilcox said the road was icy, which is considered the primary factor in the accident.
Hanson was wearing a seat belt, the police chief said. The family had moved recently from Wilton to Jay.
Northstar Ambulance, the Farmington police and fire departments, Jay police and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department all responded to the accident. The scene was reconstructed by Detective Ken Charles and Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Hartley. The accident remains under investigation by Officer Derek Daley, of Wilton Police Department.
Kaitlin Schroeder — 861-9252
Send questions/comments to the editors.
