Maine Turnpike

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

At approximately 12:30pm on May 11, 2021 a tractor trailer being driven by Casey Thomas, 48, of Sundown, NH was traveling south in the passing lane around mile marker 88 on I-95 in Sabattus, when Thomas reported that an unknown vehicle cut in front of him causing him to go into the median shoulder.  Thomas, who was driving for Maine Drilling and Blasting, stated that he could not get back into the travel portion of road and eventually struck the center guardrail.  Thomas’s vehicle was hauling explosives.  None of the explosives were released.  The vehicle sustained damage to the left front fender and 3 flat tires.  Thomas was not injured.
 

Maine’s April storm is bringing rain, snow and poor driving conditions.

On Friday, April 16, 2021, between 5am and 6am, Maine State Police (MSP) responded to three separate crashes on the Turnpike; all due to hydroplaning.

At 5:52am MSP responded to a crash at Mile 15 Southbound in Ogunquit. 
The driver of the 15 passenger van hydroplaned and crashed into the guardrail.  The vehicle’s fuel tank ruptured and caught fire. 

The driver escaped without injury.  There were no passengers in the van at the time of the crash.
Maine State Police would like to remind drivers to reduce speeds, make sure their vehicle’s tires are in good working condition and that hydroplaning, which reduces a driver’s ability to stop or steer, is a dangerous reality in inclement weather.

From the desk of Shannon Moss

A Maine Turnpike worker escaped serious injury this morning when a tractor trailer, half loaded with wine, sideswiped a turnpike truck.

This happened on Thursday at 9:45 am at Mile Marker 92 North in Litchfield.

According to The Maine State Police the turnpike truck was parked in the breakdown lane with amber lights flashing. The driver and passenger had exited the vehicle to retrieve construction signs.

The crew was finished picking up trash for the day when the loaded tractor-trailer truck was northbound and drifted into the breakdown lane hitting the rumble strip. The noise alerted the workers who were able to get into the ditch safely. The tractor-trailer sideswiped the pickup and then continued into the ditch where the truck rolled over.

The truck spilled its load of wine in the ditch.

The truck was driven by William Rodney Harrington, 59, from Hartford Conn.

A worker from the Turnpike, Michael Robinson, 43, was hit in the leg from debris flying from the crash. He was treated at the hospital.

Harrington was also treated for minor injuries at the hospital.

Harrington was summonsed for a logbook violation and failure to move over.

 Maine State Police have learned that two people died in the crash that occurred on Jan. 12, 2021.

 As a result of reconstruction and investigative efforts, police learned that a major police incident that was being investigated on the southbound side of I-95 caused traffic to slow on the northbound side. A Freightliner tractor-trailer loaded with large paper rolls being driven by Lakhveer Gill, 40, of Brantford, Ontario was traveling north, behind him was a 2014 Lexus RX230, driven by Geoffrey Gattis, 68, with his wife Elizabeth Gattis, 68, in the passenger seat, both of Falmouth. Both vehicles had slowed down, when an unloaded tractor-trailer driven by David Herring, 38, of South Portland, failed to recognize traffic had slowed and struck the Lexus from behind. The force of the impact pushed the car into the back of the first tractor-trailer, crushing the smaller vehicle. Both occupants were found deceased.

The investigation is ongoing. Speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors. Once the investigation is complete, it will be reviewed by the York District Attorney’s Office.

Maine State Police are investigating a crash caused by a wrong way driver on I-95.

On Sept. 20, 2020 at approximately 2:09 p.m., Augusta Regional Communication Center received a complaint of a wrong way driver traveling north bound in the south bound lane around mile marker 58 on the Maine Turnpike in Cumberland. 

Two minutes later, several callers stated that the pickup struck several vehicles just north of the Cumberland service plaza. 
Upon arrival, Troopers discovered there were five vehicles involved in the crash. A witness reported the red Chevy Silverado pickup left the Cumberland service plaza and drove north in the south bound lane striking the vehicles within a half mile of the plaza. The operator of the Chevy pickup was a 73-year-old male who is not believed to be impaired. Both the operator of the pickup and Saab received minor injuries. Amazingly, no one else was injured. No charges are expected at this time.
 

On September 30, 2020 at approximately 1:27 a.m., David Hand (28), of New Jersey, fell asleep and drove off the roadway to the right striking the guardrail in the area of mile marker 77 northbound on the Turnpike in Auburn. Hand was operating a tractor trailer unit that was hauling produce. The tractor trailer unit rolled over and down the embankment. The operator was able to get out of the truck on his own accord. Hand was transported to Central Maine Medical Center for further evaluation. Lewiston Fire Department and United Ambulance Service responded. The extent of his injuries were non-life threatening. The right lane of the Turnpike was shut down for an extended amount of time.

A Massachusetts man died in a crash on the Maine Turnpike earlier today.
 
On Aug. 30, 2020, Maine State Police were called to a fatal crash at Mile Marker 18 on the Maine Turnpike (Between York and Wells, Maine). As a result of the investigation, Troopers learned that Eric Fishman, 62, of Danvers, Mass. had driven off the road at Mile Marker 18 southbound. His vehicle collided with the supports of a turnpike sign. Speed and weather are considered to be factors in the crash. Fishman was the only occupant in the crash.
 

On Aug. 17, 2020, Maine State Police in Troop G was notified that a good Samaritan found a lost ring at the Kennebunk Service Plaza located on the Maine Turnpike. 

If you are the owner of the missing ring, please call the Augusta Regional Communications Center at 207-624-7076 x9 and ask to speak with the Troop G supervisor on duty. Be prepared to describe the ring or provide proof of ownership. Thank you. 

State Police say the man who died in a crash on the Maine Turnpike in Lewiston on April 27, 2020,  is 31 year old Joshua Lussier of Lewiston.  Troopers said Lussier was traveling at a high rate of speed in the northbound lane when his car struck guardrails.  He was not wearing his seat belt and was thrown out of the car. He died at the crash site.