Island Falls

On Nov. 16, 2021, at approximately 5:48 a.m. the State Police were called to mile marker 276 in Island Falls for a tractor trailer that had jackknifed, blocking both lanes of travel.  

Tp. Tim Saucier learned that Rayon Pyne, 27, of Brooklyn, NY, was traveling north when lost control of the vehicle due to icy road conditions and the unit jack-knifed in the roadway striking a guardrail and coming to rest blocking both travel lanes.  Pyne was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured.  

The tractor trailer was towed from the scene due to disabling damage.  The interstate was closed for approximately 90 min before the unit could be removed.   
 

Two people have died in a crash in Island Falls.

On August 10, 2020, at approximately 3:30 PM, the Houlton RCC received a 911 call from a passing motorist reporting a car off the road with people trapped.  Trooper Tim Saucier responded and learned the following from his subsequent investigation.  35 year old Colleen Collins was driving North on the interstate in Island Falls in a full size sport utility vehicle.  Also in the vehicle was 62 year old Mary Michaud and her son 42 year old Keith Michaud both of Van Buren.  Collins lost control of the SUV and traveled off into the ditch coming to rest in the trees before catching fire.  Colleen Collins and Mary Michaud did not survive the crash and were pronounced deceased at the scene.  Keith was transported to the Houlton Regional Hospital with non life threatening injuries.  

Due to the extent of the damage the make and model of the vehicle is still undetermined as well as if the occupants were wearing their seat belts.  

Also assisting at the scene were Tr. Steve Mahon, Sgt. Josh Haines, Lt. Brian Harris, Maine Forest Service, Island Falls Fire and Island Falls Ambulance.      

Maine State Police are investigating a crash involving a tractor trailer hauling natural gas and a plow truck.

On Jan. 13, 2020, around 9:35 p.m., Thor Cote was driving north in a Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) plow truck, plowing in the left lane, on Interstate 95, Island Falls.  William Curvin was also driving north in a tractor trailer unit hauling compressed natural gas.  William thought the plow truck was in the middle of the roadway, went to pass on the left, and struck the wing of the plow truck.  William lost control of the tractor trailer and went off the left side of the roadway into the median.  The truck tipped onto its left side and came to rest against some rocks.  No one was injured in this crash.

The tractor trailer suffered major damage to the tractor.  No hazardous material was released during the crash.

The MDOT plow truck sustained heavy damage to the plow wing and its components.  Thor was able to drive it from the scene to a highway crossover.

Crews will work to remove the rig from the median during daylight hours.

The tractor trailer was scheduled to deliver the natural gas to a local startch factory.  The truck and trailer are owned by Keenan Advantage Group, Clearmont, Indiana.

The crash is still under investigation by Sergeant Jeffrey Clark.
 

A tractor trailer truck travelling south on Interstate 95 lost control and slammed into a bridge support, cutting the trailer in half.

On Jan. 4, 2020, at approximately 7:50 p.m., Houlton Regional Communications Center received a call advising them that there was a tractor trailer leaning against a guard rail in the area of mile marker 276 South bound (Island Falls). Trooper Cotton arrived on scene and observed a white Tractor Trailer Unit wrapped around the Rt. 159 concrete bridge support. Trooper Cotton determined that the tractor trailer had lost control due to the poor weather and road conditions, slid into and broke approximately 100 yards of guard rail, before sliding into the median and into the bridge support. The impact from the bridge support broke the trailer in half. The driver suffered minor injuries.

A DOT bridge inspector was called to the scene. Westerdahls towing will be removing the truck when the weather improves.