Staff Writer
CASTLE HILL – A crash on the Castle Hill Rd. claimed the life of a local man Wednesday afternoon.
“At approximately 1:24 p.m., State Police responded to a fatal motor vehicle crash in Castle Hill. Terrance C. Lavway, 48, of Castle Hill, was traveling south when he came upon a Maine Department of Transportation grader working on the roadway,” said Sgt. Julie Bergan, MSP.
The grader was all the way to the right shoulder in the southbound lane.
According to Bergan, Lavway reportedly went to pass the road grader, which was operated by Raymond G. Putnam, 53, of Mapleton.
“Lavway apparently misjudged the distance between his vehicle and the road grader. He struck the grader in the left rear with the right front of his vehicle,” said Bergan.
Lavway, who was not wearing his seatbelt, died at the scene from massive internal trauma. Putnam was not injured in the crash. The force of the car hitting the grader caused the automobile to spin around, landing in the opposite direction of travel. The 1994 grader sustained damage, including a flat tire, but was able to be driven from the scene. Lavway’s 2006 Dodge Stratus was totaled in the crash.
The crash caused the closure of the Castle Hill Rd. to vehicular traffic for approximately three and a half hours while State Police investigated. Debris from the crash was scattered for several feet in all directions at the scene. Mike Cowett’s Towing was called to remove the vehicle.
“Alcohol is a suspected contributing factor in the crash,” said Bergan.
Trooper Dennis Quint served as lead investigator at the scene, assisted by Trooper Shawn Whalen, Bergan, Trooper Darrell Pelletier, Washburn Police Chief Doug Conroy and Motor Carrier Inspector Mike Pelletier. Trooper Robert Flynn reconstructed the crash. The Mapleton Fire Department also responded.
This is the 39th highway death of the year, according to the Maine Department of Public Safety. Police advise motorists that Maine law requires motorists to buckle up when traveling.
Photo courtesy of Jim McCarty
A CASTLE HILL MAN, identified as Terrance Lavway, died of his injuries Wednesday when his car struck a DOT grader on Castle Hill Road. Here, a highway crew and Maine State Police troopers inspect the crash scene.
