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A beloved assistant principal was tragically killed in a fiery car crash after leading police on a wild chase in Maine, police said.
Jacob Brown, 34, was pulled over Saturday around 9.30pm after reports came in of 'a vehicle operating erratically' on I-295 in Richmond - about 40 minutes outside of Portland.
Brown, who was an assistant principal at Scarborough High School, brought his 2021 gray Jeep Wrangler to a stop on the side of the road before he suddenly fled the scene 'at a high rate of speed,' Maine State Police said.
State troopers attempted to catch up to Brown, but when his vehicle came into view, he drove off the right side of the highway, crashed into the woods, leading the Jeep to blow up into a fireball.
Brown, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, was ejected from the car, authorities detailed. Troopers attempted life saving measures on him, but Brown was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police confirmed speeding and alcohol were contributing factors in the fatal crash, which remains under investigation.
Jill St. Louis, a friend of Brown's family, said the news has 'devastated' not just her but the entire community.
'I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of judgment and a lot of thoughts imposed on what actually happened, she told WMTW.
Brown has been remembered not just as an administrator but a former youth hockey coach in the community and a loving husband to his wife Lauren.
He also served as the assistant athletic director at Scarborough, according to a letter the school sent out Sunday announcing his death.
'I know that the people of Scarborough loved him,' Norm Gagne, a hockey coach who mentored Brown, told Portland Press Herald.
'He moved up the ranks, as a teacher, to athletic director at the junior high and then moving up to assistant principal. He was just an outstanding person.'
Gagne said he really loved how Brown would communicate with others.
'I think that his dealings with people was his biggest attribute, that he knew how to communicate,' he said.
St. Louis called his death 'unbelievably tragic,' adding: 'I think it’s going to be hard to find out [what] all the details were exactly.
'Will we truly ever know? I’m not sure. But at the end of the day, a really great life was lost, and I think that’s where the focus needs to be.'
A growing memorial has been set up outside the high school to honor Brown.
Classes were canceled Monday as the school offered counseling to students instead.
Scarborough Public Schools superintendent Diane Nadeau has remembered Brown as someone who 'left a lasting impression' on all who knew him.
'He had a natural gift for building meaningful relationships; his fun-loving spirit, warm smile, and steady presence lifted those around him,' Nadeau told PEOPLE.
'His impact extended far beyond our schools—he was a respected member of the Scarborough community, the Southern and Central Maine hockey community, and the Maine Principals’ Association through his volunteer work.
'In every role, Jake exemplified commitment, compassion, and service. He consistently put the needs of others first, leaving a legacy of kindness and connection that will live on in the lives of the many students, staff, families, and community members he touched,' she added.
When contacted by the Daily Mail, a spokesperson for Maine State Police said there are no updates on the case at this time.
The Daily Mail contacted Nadeau for comment.