BRIDGEWATER, Maine – Two accidents last week on Route 1 in this small Aroostook County community are both being blamed on driver inattention, with speed a factor in both cases.
On Feb. 6, Trooper Fred Thomas responded to a noontime accident in the heart of Bridgewater involving two tractor-trailer trucks.
“Two tractor-trailer trucks were southbound when one rear-ended the other,” said Thomas.
Thomas explained that an RF Chamberland truck, driven by Carl Johansson, 47, of Mars Hill, was attempting to turn into a Bradbury driveway when a second truck struck Johansson’s vehicle as he tried to turn.
“The second truck – a Gold Star Express truck out of Houlton – was operated by Andrew Marshall, 24, of Houlton. Marshall was driving a 1996 International and didn’t see the other truck was stopped to make a turn. Marshall struck Johansson’s 2006 Peterbilt, causing extensive damage to both vehicles,” said Thomas.
Thomas said driver inattention and speed were the cause of the accident. Johansson complained of back and shoulder pain but refused treatment. His truck sustained nearly $5,000 in damage.
Marshall didn’t complain of any injuries. His vehicle sustained between $10,000 and $15,000 in front-end damage.
The Bridgewater Fire Department and Trooper Dan Deschaine assisted Thomas at the scene. Traffic was slowed for a bit, according to Thomas, but kept moving until the scene was cleared. No charges were brought in relation to the crash.
A day later, on Feb. 7, at approximately 7 a.m. two more trucks were involved in a similar crash when one truck rear-ended another, this time in the northbound lane.
“Kevin Pulk, 43, of Litchfield – an independent trucker driver a flatbed – had stopped for a school bus in the northbound lane in downtown Bridgewater. A Day & Ross tractor-trailer truck driven by Eric Diamond, 34, of New Brunswick, didn’t see Pulk stopped and struck the flatbed from behind,” said Thomas.
Thomas said the bus was taking on passengers when the accident occurred. Neither the bus nor the students were involved in the incident. According to Thomas, this case too involved driver inattention and speed.
“Diamond didn’t see the truck stopped ahead of him until it was too late. He was just going too fast to be able to stop,” said Thomas.
Diamond complained of neck and shoulder pain and was transported by Crown Ambulance to The Aroostook Medical Center where he was treated for non life-threatening injuries.
Pulk was not injured. His vehicle, a 1989 Peterbilt, sustained an estimated $6,500 in damage. Diamond’s truck, a 2007 Kenworth, sustained in excess of $25,000 in front-end damage.
Upon investigation at the scene, Pulk was charged with an unregistered motor vehicle.
Assisting Thomas at the scene were personnel from the Bridgewater Fire Department, Department of Environmental Protection and Trooper Nick Bailey.
“DEP was notified for an antifreeze spill. And the Bridgewater Fire Department did a really good job with both accidents,” said Thomas.
Traffic was slowed for a couple hours but returned to normal when the scene was cleared around 9:30 a.m. Thomas said that section of Route 1 continues to be a problem, with traffic often going faster than the posted 35 mph. Plans were to increase patrols in the area to hopefully deter such incidents in the future.
“Drivers need to be aware of their surroundings – watch for other vehicles and allow adequate braking room and abide the speed limit to prevent such accidents,” said Thomas. “to often, these incidents could be avoided if drivers followed the rules of the road.”
