UPDATE: Alden F. Pease, 20, of Camden was killed in Friday’s accident in Somerville, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. A press release states that Pease was believed to be wearing a seat belt when the crash occurred; he died at the scene.

Lee A. Reynolds, 26, of Litchfield was identified as the driver of the other vehicle involved in the collision, a 2001 Western commercial truck registered to Pine State Trading Company of Gardiner.  “Mr. Reynolds who appeared to be uninjured was operating east on Route 17 at the time of the crash wearing his seatbelt,” the release states. 

“The preliminary investigation...has determined that the westbound vehicle operated by Mr. Pease crossed over into the eastbound lane and struck the truck operated by Mr. Reynolds. Investigators suspect road conditions to have been a factor ...Route 17 was snow covered and untreated with sand or salt at the time of the crash.  They do not believe that alcohol was a factor although a blood sample was obtained from Mr. Reynolds as required by Maine law.

“During the next week Deputies working with the Maine State Police plan on further examining the vehicle driven by Mr. Pease in hopes of determining if any mechanical defects contributed to this crash. Deputies will also attempt to interview and located any witnesses in hopes of clearly determining the reason why Mr. Pease entered the eastbound lane traveling west,” the release continues.

 “Criminal charges pertaining to this crash appear unlikely at this time.  The completed investigation will be provided to the Wiscasset District Attorney’s Office for final review.”

Original post: A two-vehicle crash on snow-covered Route 17 in Somerville killed one person Friday morning, according to a press release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

The release issued just before 1 p.m. February 21 states that deputies had just cleared the scene of the fatal crash, near the Jones Road intersection. The Lincoln County Communications Center got a report of the accident at about 7 a.m.

The crash killed one of the two drivers involved in the crash, according to the release.

“An initial investigation ... appears to indicate that a midsize sports utility vehicle traveling west on Route 17 lost control and struck a commercial size box truck that was traveling east bound. Route 17 at the time of the crash had not been treated with sand or salt and was covered with snow,” the release states.

“Deputies assisted by the Maine State Police commercial truck unit have been working at the scene to reconstruct and map the final resting point of both vehicles. Because the damage to the sports utility vehicle was extensive it was initially difficult to identify its operator. Deputies are working now with a local law enforcement agency to notify the next of kin for the deceased driver,” the release continues.

Later Friday, the sheriff’s office expects to release the name of the person who died, and the other driver, along with additional information.

Delta Ambulance, the Somerville, Jefferson, Whitefield and Washington fire departments and the State Police helped deputies at the scene, the release states.