Falmouth

On Thursday, September 23, 2021 at approximately 1:40 a.m. 22-year-old Ethan Chase of Durham was traveling east bound on the Falmouth Spur when he lost control of his car and crashed into a toll booth. 

The impact of the crash caused Chase’s car to catch fire and heavily damage a section of the toll booth. The shattered glass and debris from the crash struck 46-year-old John Schwabe of Westbrook. He was transported to Maine Medical Center for lacerations to his head and face.  He is expected to be released from the hospital today. Chase was not injured in the crash.

The initial investigation shows speed and alcohol were factors in the crash. Chase has been charged with Aggravated OUI.

The crash remains under investigation. No additional details are available at this time. 

The Falmouth Fire Department assisted in the crash. An engineer from the Maine Turnpike Authority will be on scene today to access the damage.

The high speed toll lanes were not impacted.
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Monday May 3,2021 at approximately 1pm, Trooper Willard was traveling south on I-295 around mile 10, when he observed a black Freightliner Tractor with a box trailer start to brake and jackknife.  Trooper Willard was able to reverse direction and arrive on scene a minute later.  

The tractor trailer was now blocking both lanes of travel bringing northbound traffic to a stop.  For a short period the driver, Jesse Philbrick, 66, from Limestone, was unable to exit the truck as one door was blocked and the other stuck.  The passenger side window was broken and Philbrick was assisted out of the truck without injury.

Witnesses say Philbrick was traveling in the right lane, when a vehicle entered 295 from exit 10, failing to yield to Philbrick.  This in turn caused Philbrick to apply his brakes and subsequently jackknife.  No other vehicles were involved in the crash.  

295 in the area of mile 10 was shut down for about 1.5 hours due to a large amount of fuel spilling from the ruptured fuel tanks.  Traffic was diverted to Route 1.    

At this time only one lane of traffic is open as cleanup continues on the left lane.

If anyone witnessed a black sedan that may entered the interstate just prior to the incident is asked to contact Trooper Connor Willard of Troop B in Gray, 207-624-7076.

Other members of Troop B and K along with Falmouth Fire and Police and DEP / DOT assisted.
 

Multiple vehicles were involved in a crash in the Northbound lane of I-295 in Falmouth near mile marker 12 that briefly closed both lanes to traffic.

On Aug. 12, 2020, at approximately 2:40 p.m., Tpr. John Darcy was investigating a hit and run crash in the breakdown lane at mile 12 northbound on I-295 in Falmouth. One vehicle involved in the crash had continued northbound and was later located by Troop D Troopers. While Tpr. Darcy was speaking with the operator of the vehicle at mile 12, vehicles traveling by began to slow. The sudden slowing of traffic lead to several cars slamming on their brakes. One vehicle stopping short caused a rear-end crash. Several more rear-end crashes began happening. In total, an 8 vehicle pile-up occurred, blocking both travel lanes.

3 people were transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland by Falmouth Rescue with non-life threatening injuries.

5 vehicles were towed from the scene by Stewart’s Towing and Copp Motors.

Troopers from Troop B and G assisted as well as Maine DOT and the Falmouth Fire Department.

Thanks to all the help from the multiple agencies involved, the scene was cleared in 45 minutes.

There will be no charges in this case.