By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
A sheriff’s deputy and a state trooper escaped serious injury over the holiday weekend in separate accidents that left each of their cruisers with significant damage.
The first accident occurred Friday night, May 27, as Sgt. Forrest Dudley, Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, was traveling on the Caribou Road in Presque Isle when he lost control due to road conditions.
Officers Lynn Hartley and Larry Fickett, Presque Isle Police Department, responded to investigate. Crown Ambulance and the Presque Isle Fire Department were also dispatched.
Dudley was transported to The Aroostook Medical Center, where he was treated for minor injuries and later released.
Mike Cowett’s Towing Service was called and towed the vehicle from the scene. According to Cowett, the car sustained heavy rear-end damage as the result of the accident. No estimate was available.
Police determined the wet pavement caused the vehicle to hydroplane, causing Dudley to lose control of the car.
The second officer to be involved in an accident was Trooper Chuck Michaud.
Sgt. Tom Pelletier, of the Maine State Police, said the accident occurred in Woodland around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, May 29, as Michaud was responding to assist another trooper on a call in Perham.
“Michaud collided with a moose on Route 228 in Woodland. He was westbound when the moose crossed into his path,” said Pelletier.
Michaud sustained minor injuries and was transported via Caribou Ambulance to Cary Medical Center in Caribou where he was treated and released. His 2009 Crown Victoria cruiser sustained major front-end damage as the result of striking the moose.
