Tractor Trailer

On February 2, 2022 at approximately 11:31 a.m., the Maine State Police in Troop F were called to a tractor trailer rollover on the State Road in Castle Hill.  Tr. Steven Mahon responded and learned that 22-year-old Kendra Harris from Augusta, Georgia, was traveling east in a 2019 International Tractor owned by Ryder Truck Rental CO from Miami FL hauling a loaded box trailer.  Harris lost control of the vehicle on a curve and crossed over the oncoming lane and went into the ditch coming to rest in the snowbank.  The trailer was loaded with 40,000 pounds of Sodium Acidpyrophosphate owned by Harcros Chemical Company bound for the Penobscot McCrum’s French Fry Plant in Washburn. 

Harris was wearing her seatbelt and suffered minor but did not require medical attention.  The cause of the crash remains under investigation with speed and driver inattention believed to be contributing factors.  The tractor trailer was towed from the scene due to disabling damage.  
 

UPDATE: The tractor trailer, driven by 33-year-old Brian Butler of South Carolina was in the far right lane when he started to lose control. The heavy rain conditions are believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.

The trailer was not loaded at the time of the crash . State Police continues to investigating.
 

Previous release:

Maine State Police Troop G Turnpike is currently out with a tractor trailer truck jack knifed across all lanes in the area of Mile Marker 35 southbound. All south bound traffic in the area is being diverted off exit 36 in Saco. We ask that all motorists seek alternative routes until the area is clear. There is only the tractor trailer involved in the crash and no injuries are reported. 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

At approximately 12:30pm on May 11, 2021 a tractor trailer being driven by Casey Thomas, 48, of Sundown, NH was traveling south in the passing lane around mile marker 88 on I-95 in Sabattus, when Thomas reported that an unknown vehicle cut in front of him causing him to go into the median shoulder.  Thomas, who was driving for Maine Drilling and Blasting, stated that he could not get back into the travel portion of road and eventually struck the center guardrail.  Thomas’s vehicle was hauling explosives.  None of the explosives were released.  The vehicle sustained damage to the left front fender and 3 flat tires.  Thomas was not injured.
 

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.
 

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.