crash

On Tuesday,  November 8, 2022 at approximately 4:10 pm, Troopers responded to a report of two separate, three vehicle crashes involving a tractor trailer truck, a large box truck, two small box trucks and a pickup truck on 295 Southbound at mile marker 27 in Brunswick.  Two people have been transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland for non-life threatening injuries.  295 southbound is currently closed in the area and traffic is being re-routed off Exit 28 Southbound to Route 1.  295 will possibly be closed for next hour or so. 
The congested roadway and glaring sun are believed to be factors in the crashes.
 

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at approximately 7:40 am, Troopers responded to a minor two-vehicle crash at Exit 6B southbound on Interstate 295 in Portland. That crash given it’s location caused traffic to back up into Falmouth.

At 8:20 am, due to that initial crash Troopers responded to a secondary crash in the southbound #1 lane on Tukey’s Bridge on Interstate 295 in Portland. During the heavy commuter traffic a 2016 Toyota Rav 4 driven by 20-year-old Jessica Bryant of Brunswick struck the rear of a GMC pick-up truck which pushed the driver into the breakdown median.   Bryant’s vehicle continued southbound and struck a Toyota 4 runner which struck a small Kia sedan.  The Toyota 4 runner was then pushed into a Subaru which was being driven in lane #2.   Bryant’s Toyota Rav 4 was disabled and remained in the #1 passing lane while other vehicles were pushed toward the breakdown lane.  Portland Police and Fire arrived on scene and assisted with injuries to Bryant.  She was eventually transported to Maine Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.  Troopers arrived on scene and managed the commuter traffic by “cruiser pushing” Bryant’s disabled vehicle which was blocking all southbound traffic to the breakdown lane where it was later towed by Stewart’s and Maietta’s towing. The goal for emergency personnel is to clear roadway as soon as possible to get traffic flowing and reduce secondary crashes. 

Witnesses reported that Bryant was using her cell phone prior to the crash and was a contributing factor to the major crash.  

Bryant was interviewed at the hospital by investigating Troopers and summonsed for Operating motor vehicle while improperly using a handheld electronic device or mobile telephone.
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO.

On Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 12:51 a.m. Maine State Police Troopers responded to mile marker 40 south bound on I-95 in Scarborough for a report of a crash involving a car vs. moose. After initially striking the moose, the driver of the car, 23-year-old Jordan Andujar of Windham, then struck a passing tractor trailer. Andujar and the two other occupants in the car were transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland with non-life-threatening injuries. The deceased moose was removed from the scene by the Maine Turnpike Authority.  

According to the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) May and June are peak moose collision months. Collisions with moose increase dramatically in these months. Moose are most active at dawn and dusk and they also travel at night. Drivers should be especially alert after sunset because dark colored animals can be very hard to see until they are right in front of your headlights. 
 
Thanks and drive safe! 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO.

On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at approximately 10:00 a.m., the Maine State Police responded to a four-vehicle crash on Route 111 at the Alfred/Lyman town line. The crash involved three FedEx vehicles and a passenger car. The vehicles were traveling West on Route 111 when they collided due to traffic slowing down and vehicles following too closely. The driver of one of the FedEx vehicles, a female from Sanford, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Two of the FedEx vehicles sustained considerable damage while one was pushed off the road and into a tree. The leaves near the tree caught fire but were quickly extinguished. One lane of traffic was kept open while the scene was cleared. The vehicles have been towed and traffic is moving freely again.

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO.
 
On Saturday, May 14, 2022, at approximately 10:00 p.m. Maine State Police Sgt. Aaron Turcotte attempted to stop a vehicle that was traveling from Hermon inbound towards Bangor on Route 222/Union Street for traveling more than 100 MPH. The driver of the 2011 Ford Fusion failed to stop and after it started making dangerous passes, Sgt. Turcotte out of an abundance of caution made the decision to terminate the pursuit. The suspect vehicle was later found crashed into a garage on Randolph Street in Bangor and the driver had fled the scene. An investigation determined that the driver of the car was 19-year-old Preston Kay of Brewer who had a suspended driver’s license and active outstanding warrants for his arrest. Police located Kay hiding inside the garage. He was taken to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center with minor injuries. Kay has since been released from the hospital. He has been arrested and charged with Eluding an Officer, Operating Under the Influence, Operating after Suspension, and Criminal Speed.  
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at approximately 2:55 p.m., the Maine State Police responded to a two-vehicle head-on crash, which occurred on Federal Road. (Rt. 4) in Livermore, just north of the intersection of Canton Road. (Rt. 108).  The road is currently shut down and has been since 3:00 p.m. for reconstruction purposes. 

Traffic is currently being re-directed at the intersection of Route 4 and Bear Pond Road in Turner. A total of four occupants were involved in the crash. They were all transported to the Central Maine Medical Center for moderate to serious injuries. Their identities are being withheld at this time pending notification to their families. The cause of the crash is still being investigated. 

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to reach out to Trooper Nicholas Watson at 207-624-7076 (option 9) or Nicholas.e.watson@maine.gov. 

The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office, the Livermore Fire Department, the Turner Fire Department, and NorthStar Rescue are all assisting on scene.
 

On March 16, 2022, at approximately 9:20 a.m., Trooper Robert Flynn had his blue emergency lights activated and was stopped near mile marker 1 in the southbound breakdown lane, behind a flatbed truck that was being towed for a mechanical issue. A tractor-trailer being driven by Johnny Rogers, 52, of Canastota, NY, drifted into the breakdown lane and struck Trooper Flynn’s cruiser. The tractor-trailer then veered back into the travel lanes, ending up in the far-left lane, striking and pinning a Jeep Cherokee, against the concrete barrier in the median. The occupants of the Cherokee were a husband and wife and two children. The driver for National Towing was underneath the flatbed truck trying to fix the mechanical issue at the time of the incident and miraculously suffered no injuries.

Fortunately, the Trooper, occupants of the Cherokee and flatbed truck that was stopped, only sustained minor injuries and are being evaluated at the Portsmouth Regional Hospital. The driver of the flatbed truck had exited the vehicle while the tow truck driver was working on it and was struck by a piece of debris from Trooper Flynn’s cruiser and is also being evaluated for what are believed to be minor injuries.

Rogers is being charged with failure to move over for an emergency vehicle and distracted driving.

Several lanes of travel were shut down to remove vehicles, backing up traffic. Troop K (Commercial Vehicle Unit), Troop G (Turnpike), Kittery Police Department, and Kittery Fire Department all assisted with the incident.
 

UPDATE: Troopers have determined that the cause of the crash was the driver of the sedan failing to yield to oncoming traffic as they merged onto I-95 from exit 130. The Maine State Police would like to remind the motoring public that they are obligated to give way to traffic that is already traveling on the interstate. 

The Maine State Police responded to a crash on Interstate 95 at mile 129 south in Waterville that involved a car vs tractor trailer. Traffic on the interstate was momentarily at a standstill while fire and ems personnel provided medical care to those involved. Law enforcement worked quickly to open up one lane of travel to alleviate traffic congestion. Minor non-life threatening injuries were report to the occupants inside the vehicle and they were transported to Thayer Hospital in Waterville for further evaluation. The case is still under investigation and no further details are available for release. 

The Maine State Police would like to thank the Waterville Fire Department, Waterville Police Department, Maine Warden Service and Maine DOT for assisting them while on scene.
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at approximately 6:36 a.m., Maine State Troopers were assisting SPS New England as they were attempting to set up a lane closure for the bridge project. SPS New England and the Troopers were in the left northbound lane of the Piscataqua River Bridge, on Interstate 95 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire just prior to the Maine State Line where the lane closure was going to be set up. Trooper Thomas Welch, 43, who was in a fully marked cruiser with emergency lights activated was rear-ended by Sean McInnis, 31, of Merrimack, New Hampshire who was driving a silver Ford 150. Tr. Welch was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. McInnis and the two occupants in his vehicle were not injured. New Hampshire State Police is investigating the crash. Any questions about the crash or potential charges should be directed to the NHSP.

The Maine State Police and the Bureau of Highway Safety wants to remind drivers to put safety first.  One of the most dangerous parts of an emergency responders’ job is stepping out on the side of the road, whether it is for a traffic stop, to assist a motorist or to investigate a crash.

To protect those who protect us, every state has “Move Over” Laws, requiring drivers to Move Over and  Slow Down when approaching stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights activated.  
 

On February 2, 2022 at approximately 11:31 a.m., the Maine State Police in Troop F were called to a tractor trailer rollover on the State Road in Castle Hill.  Tr. Steven Mahon responded and learned that 22-year-old Kendra Harris from Augusta, Georgia, was traveling east in a 2019 International Tractor owned by Ryder Truck Rental CO from Miami FL hauling a loaded box trailer.  Harris lost control of the vehicle on a curve and crossed over the oncoming lane and went into the ditch coming to rest in the snowbank.  The trailer was loaded with 40,000 pounds of Sodium Acidpyrophosphate owned by Harcros Chemical Company bound for the Penobscot McCrum’s French Fry Plant in Washburn. 

Harris was wearing her seatbelt and suffered minor but did not require medical attention.  The cause of the crash remains under investigation with speed and driver inattention believed to be contributing factors.  The tractor trailer was towed from the scene due to disabling damage.