LITTLETON, Maine — A Maine State Police cruiser was heavily damaged in a collision with a tractor-trailer truck on snow-covered U.S. Route 1 here Friday morning.
Both drivers escaped injury, according to a news release issued late Friday afternoon by state police Sgt. Jeffrey Clark.
Lt. Brian Harris, 45, of Blaine, who is the commanding officer for Troop F in Houlton, was traveling north at about 11:50 a.m. in his 2014 Ford Police Interceptor directly behind a 2016 Volvo tractor-trailer driven by Glen Thomas, 45, of Madawaska when the crash happened, Clark reported.
A red pickup truck in front of Thomas slowed suddenly to make a left turn onto Hillsiding Road, according to the release.
Clark said that when Harris saw the tractor-trailer attempt to brake, the lieutenant also tried to slow down, but his cruiser began to skid on the snow-covered roadway.
“Harris opted to maneuver right into the breakdown lane to avoid the tractor-trailer,” Clark said. “The tractor-trailer then maneuvered right into the breakdown lane to avoid the red pickup at the same time.”
Harris could not avoid colliding with the tractor-trailer.
Both drivers were wearing seat belts, and neither was hurt.
The cruiser, which had extensive front-end damage, was towed from the scene by York’s of Houlton.
