Tractor trailer rolls over on Middle Road in Dresden
Firefighters from Dresden, Wiscasset and Richmond work to pry a driver from the cab of his tractor trailer after the rig rolled over into a ditch off Middle Road in Dresden Monday, Dec. 24. JOHN MAGUIRE/Wiscasset Newspaper
THE DRIVER OF THIS TRACTOR TRAILER is reportedly in critical condition at Maine Medical Center. Firefighters and emergency service personnel from Dresden, Richmond, Wiscasset and surrounding towns responded to the scene of the accident on the Middle Road in Dresden Christmas Eve. JOHN MAGUIRE/Wiscasset Newspaper
Firefighters from Dresden, Wiscasset and Richmond work to pry a driver from the cab of his tractor trailer after the rig rolled over into a ditch off Middle Road in Dresden Monday, Dec. 24. JOHN MAGUIRE/Wiscasset Newspaper
THE DRIVER OF THIS TRACTOR TRAILER is reportedly in critical condition at Maine Medical Center. Firefighters and emergency service personnel from Dresden, Richmond, Wiscasset and surrounding towns responded to the scene of the accident on the Middle Road in Dresden Christmas Eve. JOHN MAGUIRE/Wiscasset Newspaper
A truck driver who rolled a tractor trailer upside down in a ditch off Middle Road in Dresden on Christmas Eve is in critical condition, according to staff at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. As of 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 26, Troy Chase had been released and transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland.
The 40-year-old Pittston truck driver was transported to CMMC by LifeFlight helicopter Monday, Dec. 24 after firefighters from area towns worked to cut through the crushed body of the cab and free him from the wreckage.
Preliminary findings indicate Chase lost control of the semi shortly after 11 a.m., as he was navigating an uphill turn, according to Chief Deputy Ken Mason of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department.
A call to emergency responders went out at 11:32 a.m.
Mason said neither drugs nor alcohol were contributing factors. No other vehicles were involved.
Emergency crews remained at the scene for several hours as they diverted traffic and worked to remove the smashed-in tractor and trailer from the ravine. Most of the wood chips that were in the trailer had come out during the rollover.
“Coming up over that knoll something happened,” Mason said. They want to talk with Chase, he said, but will wait until his condition stabilizes.
Initial findings show the back end of the trailer skidded sideways on the downward slope. After striking a telephone pole, it turned the whole rig upside down and into the ditch, crushing the passenger side of the cab and coming to rest with the driver side door leaning against a tree.
Mason said Chase may not have been wearing his seat-belt, but is not sure. He was found on the passenger side of the cab and had sustained serious injuries, Mason said.
Maine State Trooper Mark Barney from the trucks' weights and measures department was called in to help in the investigation. Since most of the wood chips flew out of the truck during the accident, weighing it was not practical. However, Mason said Barney was able to check the brakes, which were working.
Emergency crews cleared the scene by 5:30 p.m. Bob Blagden of Blagden's Garage in Wiscasset removed the truck and trailer from the ditch and officers from the sheriff's office escorted the wrecker safely to a nearby yard.
The accident is still under investigation.
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