The mother who stepped in front of a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 in Penobscot County while holding her 2-year-old son left suicide notes at her home, Maine State Police said.

Police are investigating the death of 26-year-old Heidi McGovern of Lee as a suicide. McGovern was holding her son, Enoch, when she stepped in front of an Irving Oil tanker truck Thursday afternoon.

Related Headlines Mother killed, toddler son critically injured after being hit by tractor trailer on I-95 HOW TO GET HELP WHERE to get help if you or anyone you know is battling depression or has had suicidal thoughts: Maine Crisis Hotline: 888-568-1112 Other state resources in Maine: Dial 211 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

McGovern was killed instantly and her son was thrown from her arms. The boy landed in the passing lane of the highway and was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he is being treated for serious injuries, police said.

Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said McGovern left notes at her home.

The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Thursday in Township 2, Range 8, which is about 4 miles from the Lincoln exit. The truck, which was hauling fuel, was driven by Kenneth Gray, 59, of Bucksport.

McGovern also was the mother of an infant, who was elsewhere at the time of the incident, police said.

Gillian Graham can be contacted at 791-6315 or at:

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Twitter: grahamgillian

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