Staff Writer
“I credit my response during the accident to what I have learned from watching “Ice Road Truckers” and from the Pelletier boys in Millinocket on “Extreme Logging,” said Stephen Levesque, 40, of Mars Hill.
Aroostook republican photo/Barb Scott
Driver Stephen Levesque somehow walked away from this sideways semi full of wood chips after breaking through the guardrail to avoid hitting a pick up truck.
Levesque was the driver of the 1989 Ford tractor trailer, hauling a full load of woodchips heading south on U.S. Route 89 toward Caribou when Floyd Parker, 81, of Caribou, operating a 1998 Ford Ranger pulled out of Limestone Street, directly in front of the oncoming trailer truck. The accident occurred on Thursday, Aug. 27, prior to 9 a.m.
“I knew if I didn’t do something, I was going to take him with me,“ said Levesque, “I jammed the brakes as hard as I could.” Levesque’s efforts resulted in the trailer truck actually hitting the back of the pickup truck, which was spun around, as Levesque’s truck broke through a guardrail and traveled down an estimated 65-foot embankment, crashing through dense brush and trees. The trailer containing a full load of woodchips, destined for Ashland, overturned about half-way down the ravine, the cab came to a halt partially in what is known as Otter Brook, a tributary of the Aroostook River.
Both drivers escaped from being injured in the collision and were able to walk away from their vehicles. “There was definitely someone watching over you,” said Levesque’s brother. “I know,” replied Stephen Levesque, “when I saw where I was headed, I knew it was going to be quite a ride.”
Caribou Chief of Police Michael Gahagan stated the trailer truck, owned by Ralph Levesque, brother to the driver, received extensive damage and was removed from the scene by Brewer’s Wrecker Service of Mars Hill.
Aroostook republican photo/Barb Scott
The truck and driver careened down a 65-foot embankment off of U.S. Route 89 on Aug. 27.
Caribou Police Officer Doug Bell is the investigating officer. Traffic was rerouted around the accident scene due to that portion of Rt. 89 being closed for seven hours.
“We received a 9-1-1 call regarding the Aug. 27 accident at 8:42 a.m.” said Caribou Fire and Ambulance Chief Roy Woods, “we responded with an ambulance at that time. They were at the scene for two hours and 18 minutes, the first time and for three hours following that,” he continued. Overall there were two ambulances, three fire trucks and a total of 15 fire and ambulance personnel involved in securing the collision scene. Chief Woods commented that both patients – drivers of the vehicles Levesque and Parker — were very, very lucky, “It could have been a lot worse.”
Due to the truck overturning and with the cab being partly submerged in Otter Brook, fire personnel, according to Chief Woods, “assisted members of DEP in containing the fuel. “There was some spill but it was contained,” he said.
Chief Woods also commented there were no injuries sustained by firefighters assisting at the scene.
Before the trailer truck could be removed from the embankment, the woodchips were shoveled out by hand.
Stephen Levesque’s wife, April stated, as she watched the action taking place around her, “I’m just glad I still have a husband this morning.”
Aroostook Republican photo Barb Scott
Members of the Caribou Fire Department worked to contain a small oil leak that resulted from the turbulent journey down the side of a 65-foot embankment taken by both driver and vehicle.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Stephen Levesque and his wife, April, both realize that things could have been very different. April stated that she is thankful that she still has her husband.
