Imagine you arrive at your high school one morning and your assistant principal is nowhere to be seen. As the day wears on, the rumor mill churns: Principal Brown is dead. Then you hear the full story—he led police on a high-speed Saturday night car chase and died in a crash.

Students at Scarborough High School in Maine will likely never forget this bizarre incident. Maine State Police report they got multiple 911 calls around 9:30 p.m. for “a vehicle operating erratically on I-295 southbound.”

Responding troopers pulled over 34-year-old Jacob Brown. But during the traffic stop, he had a change of heart and “suddenly fled at a high rate of speed.” So the MSP chased him. “Troopers attempted to catch up to the vehicle with emergency lights and sirens activated.”

Finally, the officers caught up. “As the Jeep came into view, it veered off the right side of the roadway, at Mile Marker 13 southbound in Cumberland, crashing into the woods and becoming engulfed in flames.”

Brown wasn’t buckled in and was tossed a “short distance” from his SUV. The Jeep burst into flame, but troopers pulled him away from the wreck and began life-saving measures. He was pronounced dead at the scene “a short time later.”

Scarborough High School mourns Assistant Principal Jacob Brown

The district superintendent notified families in the Portland suburb Sunday night. The school canceled Monday classes, though invited students in for a day “intentionally designed for students and staff to come together for support.” She added, “Jake left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of working with him. He had a natural gift for building meaningful relationships; his fun-loving spirit, warm smile, and steady presence lifted those around him.”

Brown began his career in education teaching middle school before joining the high school, becoming an administrator, and serving as the varsity hockey coach.

The MSP investigation remains open, though the police suspect speed and alcohol were contributing factors to Brown’s death.