DAYTON — The Thornton Academy community is mourning the loss of a member of the Class of 2023 who was killed in a motorcycle accident on Monday.

Around 8 p.m. on Monday, Maine State Police and Goodwins Mills Fire Department responded to a crash involving a motorcycle and a sedan traveling westbound at the intersection of Route 5 and River Road in Dayton, said Maine Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Shannon Moss in a press release.

The driver of the motorcycle, Ian Lajoie, 18, of Dayton, was passing in the left lane and clipped the front driver’s side of the sedan as it was turning, said Moss. Lajoie suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, said Moss. The three occupants in the sedan were evaluated at the scene and determined to have no injuries, she said.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, said Moss.

Ian Lajoie graduated from Thornton on June 5. His mother, Christy Lajoie, is a math teacher at Thornton Academy.

“Thornton Academy was deeply saddened by the news of Ian’s death. He was a good student with a big smile who planned to follow his passion for computers and study Computer Science at the University of Southern Maine,” said Thornton Academy Headmaster Rene Menard. “Ian’s loss hits the Thornton community especially hard, as his mother, Christy, has taught Math and Science here for nearly 30 years. Our thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies go out to Christy and her family at this unimaginable time.”

A letter was sent out to parents and guardians notifying them that counselors and social workers would be available on Tuesday and Wednesday.

For those looking for resources outside the school, The Center for Grieving Children is a local non-profit organization that provides a safe space, loving peer support, outreach, and education to grieving children, teens, families and the community.  The center can be contacted at 207-775-5216 or cgc@cgcmaine.org.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.