Caribou man killed on Route 1

 PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – A Caribou man was struck and killed as he walked along Route 1 early Saturday morning.
     The Presque Isle Police Department responded to a call at approximately 2:49 a.m. on March 3. The call, placed through 9-1-1, was from the driver of the vehicle involved, Ward Ballard, 42, of Caribou. Ballard indicated he had struck a pedestrian and requested emergency personnel respond to the scene near the New Life Baptist Church on the Caribou Road.
The victim was identified as Richard J. Theriault, 31, of Caribou.
Investigation at the scene revealed that Theriault was walking northbound on Route 1 in the northbound travel lane. The man was wearing dark clothing and was reportedly walking on the wrong side of the road when the accident occurred. Weather was considered to be a factor in the incident, since snow was still falling from a storm that hit the area on Friday.
“It was still snowing at the time of the incident and the roads were snow covered,” said Sgt. Laurie Kelly, of the PIPD.
According to police, Ballard was operating his pickup truck north on the Caribou Road. Ballard struck Theriault as Theriault was walking.
“Ballard stopped, called 9-1-1 and, with the assistance of the 9-1-1 dispatcher, performed CPR on Theriault in an attempt to revive him,” said Kelly.
Additional attempts to revive the man were unsuccessful and Crown Ambulance personnel pronounced Theriault dead at the scene.
Witnesses reportedly said they’d passed the man as he walked a short time before and indicated they thought he was hitchhiking. Theriault was struck before the couple could turn around and pick him up.
The Presque Isle Fire Department’s rescue unit, Crown Ambulance, the Presque Isle Public Works Department and Trooper Rob Flynn of the Maine State Police also responded to assist. Members of the PIPD assisting with the case included: Kelly and Officers Roger Ellis, Rob Thibeault and Kevin Schumacher. Caribou Police Officer Dwight Wilcox provided traffic control to the north.
Traffic had to be re-routed for nearly three hours as emergency personnel worked at the site. Thibeault was in charge of the investigation. An accident reconstructionist with the Maine State Police was requested to help investigate the incident.
Chief Naldo Gagnon and Det. Sgt. Wayne Selfridge, both of the PIPD, and District Attorney Carrie Linthicum  were also notified of the accident. The Medical Examiner’s Office, in Augusta, was contacted and authorized the removal of the body by Duncan Graves Funeral Home.
The road was re-opened around 6 a.m. The next of kin were notified of the death Saturday morning.
No information on calling hours or the funeral was available at presstime.
Police advise pedestrians to use caution when walking – walk facing traffic and to wear lighter-colored clothing to be more visible to drivers of oncoming vehicles.