PORTAGE LAKE, Maine — Traffic on Route 11 was limited to a single lane, Monday morning, following an early morning accident involving a tractor trailer and downed utility pole and power lines, according to Maine State Police.
Shortly after 3 a.m., 47-year-old Bruce Theriault of Fort Kent was driving his 2013 Ford pick-up south on Route 11 when he lost control of his vehicle and went off the roadway, striking a utility pole in the parking lot of Dean’s Motor Lodge, according to a statement from Cpl. Chuck T. Michaud
The accident caused the utility wires to hang down across the roadway. A short time later, Jeffrey Jandreau, 55 and also of Fort Kent, who was southbound in a 2013 Western Star tractor-trailer, was unable to stop in time and drove into the wires.
Jandreau was able to come to a stop before any more damage was caused, but the tractor became entangled in the wires.
Both drivers were wearing seat belts and there were no injuries, according to police. Neither vehicle was carrying passengers at the time of the accident, Michaud said.
The highway was closed for about three hours while Emera Maine crews worked on replacing the pole and untangling the truck from the power wires. Michaud expected it would be reopen by 9 a.m.
Local traffic was rerouted through the parking lot of Coffin’s Store, across the highway, while the crews worked on the scene. Larger, commercial motor-vehicles, however, could not fit through the parking lot, so that traffic had to park and wait or turn around and seek an alternate route.
Theriault’s driving too fast for the road conditions contributed to the accident, Michaud said. Police do not anticipate any charges at this time.
Members of the Portage Lake Fire Department directed traffic at the scene of the crash. Theriault’s truck was towed from the scene.
