Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The wintery mix the area has been experiencing – freezing rain, sleet and snow – has caused treacherous driving for some traveling local roads.
What could have been a serious accident on Sunday, March 2, resulted in only minor bruises for a Presque Isle man.
Richard Bull, 79, was traveling south on Route 1 around 3:03 p.m. when he lost control of his vehicle due to poor road conditions.
“the wind was blowing quite hard, with white-out conditions, when the accident occurred,” said Sgt. Joey Seeley, who assisted in investigating the incident for the Presque Isle Police Department. “Why it wasn’t worse, I’m not sure.”
Seeley reported Bull’s vehicle, a 2002 Ford Ranger, crossed into the opposite lane, rolled onto its top and landed in a field. Bull was traveling alone in his truck.
Seeley credited a witness’s prompt actions for getting the victim from his truck to a warm vehicle to await help.
“A witness – Robert Duprey, of Limestone – actually had the individual out of the truck and into another passerby’s vehicle when I arrived,” said Seeley.
Seeley said had the driver not been wearing his seatbelt, the accident might have resulted in far more serious injuries.
“Bull sustained minor bruising and bumps from the rollover. Fortunately, he was wearing his seatbelt. I can’t say enough about the importance of buckling up. Had he not had his seatbelt on, we would have had a lot different outcome,” said Seeley.
Considering the vehicle rolled over, Seeley said damage was minimal.
“The truck sustained between $1,500 and $2,000 in damage,” said Seeley.
Bull did not seek medical treatment. The truck was towed from the scene by Cowett’s Towing Service, of Presque Isle.
Officer Shawn Newell, of the PIPD, was the lead investigator. Assisting Newell and Seeley at the scene were Crown Ambulance and the Presque Isle Fire Department.
An accident around 2:16 p.m. March 2 between a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, driven by Joshua R. Martin, 18, of Presque Isle, and a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am, driven by Samuel L. Jencks, 24, of Presque Isle, was blamed on poor road conditions, according to police.
Newell responded to the accident on Birch St. No series injuries were reported but each vehicle sustained over $2,000 in damage. Cowett’s was called to tow the Grand Am, while T.A. Service, of Presque Isle, removed the Cruiser.
Upon further investigation, Newell discovered Jencks was operating after suspension. Jencks was arrested for OAS and on a warrant.
Road conditions at the time of the accident were snow covered and slippery.
A storm a few days earlier caused no serious injuries when the driver of a 2006 Ford Fusion slid off the Washburn Road and wound up with one wheel stuck over a guardrail covered in snow on the opposite side of the road.
Officer Chris Hayes responded to the scene.
The vehicle, driven by Jamie L. Bouchard, 22, of Sinclair, was traveling east when the accident happened. As she rounded a curve in the Washburn Rd. near the intersection with the McBurnie Rd., she lost control, skidded across the snow-covered roadway and the front left side of her vehicle went over the snowbank. Unable to get free, Cowett’s was called to remove the car.
“The vehicle ran off the road due to weather and road conditions,” said Hayes.
The Ford sustained approximately $2,000 in front-end and undercarriage damage as the result of the accident.
With winter weather unlikely to go away any time soon, police advise drivers to use caution when traveling; clear snow from vehicles, including windows and lights; allow extra time to reach a destination; reduce speed according to road conditions; and watch for snow-removal activities when passing driveways. With warmer temperatures causing snow to melt on roadways during the daytime, then freezing over as night temperatures drop, police urge motorists to be watchful of ‘black ice’ when driving at night.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
TOW TRUCK drivers have found their services in demand as Mother Nature continues to dump snow on a regular basis throughout Aroostook County. Here, a driver gets an assist out of a snowbank after skidding on a snow-covered Washburn Rd. recently. While the speed limit may read 50 mph along many area roads, like this section of Route 164, police advise adjusting driving speed to compensate for poor road conditions.
