PALERMO — A Palermo father and son and two Bucksport brothers died on snowy Route 3 on Sunday afternoon in Maine’s deadliest motor vehicle crash of the year.

The crash happened about 1:30 p.m., when a sport utility vehicle driven by Tyler Manduca, 18, of Bucksport, skidded and was struck broadside by a car driven by Dennis Sturges, 64, of Palermo, Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said in a news release.

Manduca and Sturges were killed, as were Manduca’s passenger, his brother Kyle Manduca, 21, and Sturges’ passenger, his father, Roy Lucier, 83, also of Palermo. All the men died instantly, police said.

Manduca was traveling too fast for the conditions, but alcohol was not considered to be a factor, according to state police.

Police said both pairs of men were headed to family Christmas events.

Route 3 was closed until about 5 p.m. as troopers investigated and cleared the road. Crews from China, Montville, Palermo and Liberty fire departments assisted.

With light snow falling and cold temperatures, slippery road conditions across the state caused a variety of crashes and “slide-offs” that required towing, including several in Cumberland and Sagadahoc counties.

“People need to remember it’s winter and they need to be using winter driving skills,” said Cumberland County Sheriff’s Sgt. David Hall.

In Topsham, a three-car crash was reported early Sunday afternoon on Middlesex Road.

At least one person was taken by ambulance to Parkview Medical Center in Brunswick, but no other information was available.

Kennebec Journal Staff Writer Susan McMillan can be reached at 621-5645 or at:

smcmillan@mainetoday.com