January 2026

MASARDIS

On January 5, 2026, at approximately 9:02 AM, the Maine State Police responded to a report of a tractor-trailer truck on Route 11 in Masardis that was stuck in the power lines. Troopers investigating the scene determined that the driver had just received a load of wood from the mill in Masardis and attempted to cross an intersection at the mill with an overfilled load. This caused the boom on the vehicle and the load on the trailer to get stuck in the power lines. The incident blocked the northbound lane of travel on Route 11 for multiple hours. Troopers were assisted by various departments to include the Ashland Fire Department, Masardis Fire Department, The Maine Forest Service, Ashland EMS and Versant Power.  

Nashville Plantation

On Monday, January 5, 2026, at approximately 09:36 AM, Maine State Police received a report of a vehicle off the roadway on Portage Road in Nashville Plantation.  At the time of the crash the roadway was icy, a contributing factor which caused the vehicle, a 2007 Kia Spectra to slide off the roadway and strike a guard rail. A Maine Forest Service Ranger was in the area and responded to the location to provide traffic control while Troopers were responding to the scene. As a wrecker was attempting to retrieve the Kia, the Forest Ranger was attempting to shut down the roadway to the north of the crash scene using emergency lighting in his patrol vehicle. At this time, a 2016 Western Star, configured as a log truck with a loaded trailer, rounded a blind corner near the crash scene. The tractor trailer attempted to brake but began sliding due to icy roadway conditions. The vehicle began to jackknife and struck the rear of the Maine Forest Service vehicle. The Forest Ranger was out of the vehicle at the time, but the driver of the Kia was in the Maine Forest Service vehicle at the time of the crash. He was transported from the scene to the hospital by Ashland Ambulance Service for minor injuries. The Kia and Maine Forest Service patrol vehicle were towed from the scene due to disabling damage. The Forest Ranger and driver of the tractor trailer were not injured in the crash. The Ashland Fire Department responded to the crash and provided traffic control while the crash was investigated by members of the Maine State Police. Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Maine Forest Service, Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle Unit (Troop K), Ashland Ambulance Service, and Ashland Fire Department. The investigation is ongoing.

PATTEN

On Monday, January 5, 2026, shortly after 12:00 PM, the Maine State Police responded to a report of a tractor-trailer truck off the road near the intersection of Route 11, and Winding Hill Road in Patten. The vehicle had taken out 3 utility poles and power lines were across both lanes of travel. Troopers determined the driver lost control of the vehicle due to icy road conditions The incident blocked off both lanes of travel on Route 11 for several hours.