HOULTON, Maine — The storm that dropped more than a foot of snow on Aroostook County was also cited in a number of motor vehicle accidents over the weekend.
On Saturday night, around 7 p.m., Sheriff’s deputies were called to an accident on Route 163 in Mapleton. Deputies found Raymond Salch, 58, of Caribou, had left the road and struck a utility pole in his 1999 Ford van.
According to Deputy Chief Darrell Crandall, Salch was traveling eastbound at the time he veered off the road. Before deputies arrived, Salch tried to leave the scene of the accident, but drove across the road and into the ditch on the opposite side, getting stuck.
When deputies arrived, they determined Salch had been drinking. After a brief roadside investigation and an intoxilyzer test, Salch was charged with operating under the influence. His initial court appearance is Feb. 5, in Presque Isle. The utility pole was not damaged but the vehicle sustained over $1,000 in damage. Deputy Sheriffs Michael Montpetit and Ryan Doughty investigated this incident.
On Sunday, at 4 p.m., Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a multi-vehicle accident on U.S. Route 1 in Monticello near the north end of the Hill Siding Road. Upon investigation, deputies learned that Gary Cullins, 69, of Monticello, was traveling north on Route 1 behind a plow truck.
Due to decreased visibility, Cullins drifted across the center of the road and struck a southbound 2001 Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by 59-year-old Philip Beaupre of St. Leonard, N.B. Cullins’ 2000 GMC pickup left the road and became lodged in a snow bank.
The tractor-trailer crossed the center of the road and struck a northbound 2005, Dodge Neon operated by Brianna Berry, 20, of Van Buren. Berry’s vehicle was pushed off the road and also became lodged in a snow bank. The tractor-trailer came to rest in the snow along the tree line.
Berry suffered serious injuries and was taken to Houlton Regional Hospital. Her passengers, 36-year-old Ariel Rosado and a three-month old child, were also transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Berry was subsequently transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center, where she remained as of Monday afternoon.
Beaupre was also transported to Houlton Regional Hospital with minor injuries. Berry’s vehicle and the Freightliner were destroyed in the accident, while Cullins’ GMC sustained $5,000 or more in damages.
Deputy Sheriff Vance Palmer and Sgt. Forrest Dudley investigated the accident. They were assisted at the scene by Monticello, Bridgewater and Houlton fire departments; Crown and Houlton ambulance services; as well as the Maine State Police and U.S. Border Patrol.
On Monday morning at about 10 a.m., Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of another multi-vehicle accident on Route 1 in Monticello, just south of the village.
Deputies investigating the accident determined that Murray Lawrence, 64, of Westfield was driving south in his 2012 Ford pickup. As he pulled into the far right lane, Gerrard Perron, 74, of Presque Isle passed Lawrence in his 2002 Toyota Tundra.
Perron lost control of his vehicle and hit Lawrence’s vehicle, forcing Lawrence into the snow bank. Perron’s vehicle then slid into oncoming traffic and was hit by a 2002 Ford Explorer driven by Nicole Maguire, 38, of Monticello. Frank Robinson, 63, was a passenger in Perron’s vehicle and Shantteal Jones, 25, was a passenger in Maguire’s vehicle.
Perron, Maguire, Jones and Robinson all suffered injuries and were transported to Houlton Regional Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Tundra and the Explorer were destroyed, while the Ford pickup sustained only minor, non-disabling damages.
Sgt. Forrest Dudley and Sgt. Kris Miller investigated this accident with assistance from Sheriff James Madore, Houlton and Crown ambulance services, Monticello Fire Department and U.S. Border Patrol.
Finally, at about 11:20 a.m., Monday, Sheriff’s deputies responded to another multi-vehicle crash in Littleton.
This time, a 2007 Freightliner delivery van operated by Arthur Fairbrother, 66, of Swanville, was southbound on U.S. Route 1 in Littleton. According to Crandall, Fairbrother became distracted and struck a 2014 Daigle Oil fuel oil delivery truck that was traveling in the same direction. Corey Austin, 44, of Houlton, was operating the fuel truck.
A 2003 Ford SUV, driven by Tania Dionne, 31, of Fort Kent, was also southbound and swerved to avoid the accident. Her vehicle became lodged in the snow bank. No one was injured, but the delivery van was believed to be totaled, Crandall said. The fuel delivery truck sustained about $10,000 in damages and the Ford SUV was not damaged.
Fairbrother was summonsed for failure to provide evidence of insurance. Sgt. Kris Miller investigated this accident and was assisted by U.S. Border Patrol.
