A Portland, Maine pastor has tragically died in a motorcycle crash this weekend in Westbrook.
Pastor Bill Chadwick, who had been the pastor at Stroudwater Christian Church in Portland, Maine since 1990, was riding on a motorcycle on Saturday when the incident took place.
The 64-year-old collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Route 25 and Conant Street at about 11.50 a.m. local time. The pastor suffered critical injuries in the crash and died at the scene, according to local police reports.
The driver of the other vehicle has been named as James Bosse, 71, who was uninjured in the accident.
Police have reported that the incident is still under investigation, however, no criminal charges are pending.
Pastor Chadwick's wife, Carol, has paid tribute to her late husband, saying that he lived a life devoted to helping others, as well as spreading the Word of God.
She said, "There's lots and lots of people he's crossed paths with and helped. He was absolutely passionate about leading others to Christ."
"That was his principal mission in life, that was why he got up every day," she testified to Central Maine.
Pastor Chadwick also had a heart for international aid work, and inspired other church members to travel with him to Guatemala to build homes, help create infrastructure for clean water and sanitation, as well as spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Carol has said, "He was always trying to find a way to better the life of some of the people down there."
Pastor Chadwick had been holding online services in recent weeks due to the social distancing measures in place to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. This Sunday, however, the church's other leaders had the sad task of announcing the pastor's passing away over the live stream broadcast to weekly parishioners.
Stroudwater Christian Church's board of directors also announced Pastor Chadwick's death on the church's website: "The loss and profound grief we all feel may seem more than we can bear, yet we are reminded of Pastor Bill's many words, over his many years with us, that strengthen and encourage us, and will lead us to a place of peace in our Lord whom he loved and served."
Pastor Chadwick leaves behind his wife, Carol, and two sons, Benjamin and Daniel.
