BRIDGEWATER, Maine — Two men escaped injury Thursday when a loaded trailer being hauled by a pickup truck slid into oncoming traffic on Route 1 and hit a tractor-trailer.
The roadway was shut down for nearly two hours as police investigated, crews worked to clear the scene, and Emera Maine linemen repaired downed power lines.
James Turner, 65, of Presque Isle, was northbound in a 2002 Ford pickup towing a trailer hauling another pickup when the accident happened around 12:30 p.m., according to Cpl. Dennis Quint of the Maine State Police.
While coming down a hill on the roadway, the trailer lost traction and began to slide, Quint reported in a press release issued Thursday night. It had been raining heavily all day in Aroostook County.
Turner attempted to correct the trailer, but it careened into oncoming traffic and into the path of 31-year-old Holden Soucier of West Enfield, who was driving a 2014 Freightliner tractor-trailer, according to Quint.
Turner’s trailer struck the front left of the big rig, breaking off the front left tire of the tractor-trailer, which then crossed the northbound lane and landed in the ditch.
Turner lost control of his pickup, which went off the right side of the road and rolled over, striking a utility pole and coming to rest on the passenger side.
The impact snapped the pole, ripping the wires from a nearby home.
Both men were wearing seatbelts and no one was injured in the crash, according to Quint. Turner’s vehicle was destroyed, while the trailer sustained significant damage. The pickup that was loaded onto the trailer also sustained heavy damage.
Soucier’s tractor-trailer had significant damage but the loaded trailer appeared intact, Quint stated.
The roadway was completely shut down until Emera linemen could arrive and disconnect the live power lines that were laying in the roadway. Workers with Consolidated Communications also came to the scene to erect a new pole and crews re-established power to the residence.
The roadway reopened nearly two hours after the crash occurred.
Trooper Robert Flynn of the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit responded to the
scene to assist with the investigation.
The investigators determined that the trailer Turner was towing did not have brakes as required. Police summoned him for operating with inadequate brakes and for failing to maintain control of a motor vehicle.
Members of the Bridgewater Fire Department and Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office also responded and assisted with traffic control.
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- Two men escaped injury Thursday when a loaded trailer being hauled by a pickup truck slid into oncoming traffic on Route 1 and struck this tractor-trailer. (Maine State Police)
