LEWISTON — Police were investigating fatal crashes in Durham and Greene during a Wednesday rain and ice storm.

Just after 10 a.m. in Durham, a car driven by Michael Connolly, 51, of Freeport slid off Pinkham Brook Road. Connolly was dead when emergency crews arrived.

Witnesses said the vehicle brake lights never came on as the Kia Spectra continued traveling straight in an area where the road curves near 96 Pinkham Brook Road.

The car narrowly missed a utility pole, slid across a lawn and driveway and struck a large pine tree, according to the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department.

Witnesses told police the car accelerated shortly before it went off the road. Police believe Connolly might have suffered a medical condition that contributed to the crash, although it was still being investigated by Deputy Jon Guay on Wednesday night.

In Greene at about noon, a car slid off Allen Pond Road and rolled over, coming to rest upside down between a group of trees and a large rock.

When police and emergency crews arrived, they found Ralph Walker, 71, of Greene dead inside his car, according to the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department.

Investigators said Walker was driving north when he lost control of his Pontiac Bonneville roughly a half-mile from the intersection at Route 202.

Sgt. James Jacques was continuing to investigate the crash Wednesday night.

The messy conditions made their way Northeast from the southern part of the state and along the coast.

Around dinnertime, traffic was backed up into Maine at the New Hampshire border because the turnpike in that state was closed due to numerous crashes.

The Maine Turnpike Authority said traffic in the southbound lane was at a standstill for the entire 7-mile stretch between the border and the York toll plaza in Maine.

That kind of scene was familiar to most cities and towns where weather and traffic caused headaches for most of the day.

Minot Avenue and Goff Hill in Auburn were closed earlier in the morning for sanding but reopened before 1 p.m.

The National Weather Service in Gray issued a severe weather advisory Wednesday morning for freezing rain until 3 p.m. in Androscoggin, Kennebec, interior Cumberland and Waldo counties. Temperatures moved to the high 20s and low 30s.

A spokeswoman for Central Maine Medical Center said that hospital’s emergency room saw a spike in visitors from car accidents and slippery walking conditions.

After dark Thursday, the driving rain continued to fall and roads remained wet for evening commuters. The rain and wintry mix was expected to continue into Thursday morning before giving way to clearer skies and warmer temperatures, according to the Weather Service in Gray.

Scattered snow showers are expected over the next few days, according to meteorologists, but they were unsure whether Christmas Day on Sunday would be a white one.