By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
From Presque Isle to Ashland, Mars Hill to Stockholm, state and local police responded to a number of accidents over the holiday weekend, with the most serious reported in Presque Isle on Thanksgiving, Nov. 22.
The Presque Isle Police Department responded to a call at about 8:10 a.m. Thanksgiving Day to a report of an accident on the Caribou Road just north of the city near the Family Christian Center. Upon arrival, officers discovered two vehicles were involved – a tractor-trailer truck and a Subaru.
According to investigating officer Sgt. Laurie Kelly, of the PIPD, Holly Davis, 31, of Caribou, was southbound on Route 1 when her 2002 Subara Ipreza began fishtailing on the snow-covered road. The vehicle continued fishtailing as it veered into the path of a northbound 2006 Volvo tractor-trailer truck driven by Aaron Efrosman, 38, of Charny, Que., in the northbound lane. Efrosman tried to avoid a collision by pulling his vehicle to the right, but to no avail. The Subaru struck the truck’s front tire, causing the truck to go into the ditch. Davis came to a stop on the southbound shoulder of the road.
Davis complained of right side pain and was transported by Crown Ambulance to The Aroostook Medical Center where she was treated and later released. Efrosman was uninjured. Both parties were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.
Cowett’s Towing Service, of Presque Isle, was called to remove the Subaru from the scene. The vehicle sustained approximately $7,000 in damage. Bernier’s, of Mapleton, towed the truck, which sustained an estimated $20,000 in damage, from the accident site.
Kelly was assisted at the scene by Det. Bill Scull, of the PIPD, and the Presque Isle Fire Department. Poor road conditions was determined to be the cause of the accident.
From Thanksgiving through the remainder of the holiday weekend, state and local police continued to respond to accidents on area roadways caused by both weather and animals.
“For the holiday weekend, the Maine State Police responded to about 25 weather- and animal-related accidents in Aroostook County,” said Sgt. David McPherson, of the MSP.
McPherson said fortunately none involved serious injury. Weather-related accidents involved mostly cars slipping off the road or having minor fender-benders with other vehicles. No particular road was worse than any other, with reports evenly spread throughout the County – from Route 11 to Route 1A, Route 1 and various side roads.
“That’s above the normal collision rate for this time of the year,” said McPherson, noting that many of the accidents were due to road conditions. “The full moon provided more light for animals to get out and about, in search of food. Drivers need to watch for deer and moose in the roadway this time of year, since they like to lick the salt off the road.”
The PIPD has seen their fair share of animal-related accidents, with reports of several deer, moose and even a bear incident on record in recent weeks. With snow here for what looks like the duration of winter, police advise using caution when traveling, allow added time to make your destination, clear windows properly of snow and ice, make sure lights are operational and use them when on the road.
As of Nov. 20, Maine State Police Chief Colonel Patrick Fleming reported 163 people had died on Maine roads this year compared to 156 deaths for the same period a year ago.
Fleming encourages drivers to “make sure their vehicles are ready for winter weather with winter tread tires, updated windshield wipers, and that the heater, defroster, lights and battery area in good working order.”
“Vehicles should be equipped with a blanket, shovel, booster cables, flares and a bucket of sand or salt for winter emergencies. Motorists needing help can call 9-1-1 on their cellular phone and they’ll be connected to the nearest State Police communications center,” said Fleming.
Lauren V. Stewart, director of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, reported four people were killed last year in Maine during the Thanksgiving weekend, up one from 2005’s total of three deaths during the same period.
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated nearly 600 people would die nationwide during this year’s holiday weekend,” said Stewart.
In an effort to keep the number low, officials are urging safety.
“The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety has joined State Police and local and county law enforcement to strongly encourage seatbelt use year-round,” said Stewart.
The holidays also serve as a good time to remember children must always be properly restrained in vehicles and although the vast majority are, surveys have shown that seven out of 10 child safety restraints are improperly used or installed, said Stewart.
