Police Say Car Fire Was Suicide

Police responded to reports, from passing motorists, of a car fire Saturday morning. After an investigation, they discovered the sole occupant of the car had used the fire to commit suicide.

Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said in a press release that William Wakefield, age 61 of Skowhegan, had called a friend to say he was going to kill himself. He then doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire.

Passing motorists saw the burning car in a rest area off Route 201 in Fairfield around 10 a.m. and reported it to police. The State Fire Marshal's office is investigating and Wakefield's body was taken to the State Medical Examiner's office.