Weather makes for poor driving conditions
on area roads
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
RECENT SNOWSTORMS brought just enough precipitation to the area to make driving conditions less than desirable. A number of accidents in the Presque Isle area over the past week were blamed on slick pavement, with at least three incidents reported on State Street Extension on Monday, with police requesting assistance from the Highway Department to sand several areas. Here, a Presque Isle Public Works plow clears slush from Main Street at the Maysville intersection.
By Kathy McCarty
PRESQUE ISLE — Weather has played a role in a number of accidents reported to the Presque Isle Police Department over the past week. While several vehicles sustained damaged, none of the accidents involved serious injuries, according to the police log.
Around 3:59 p.m. on Jan. 11, a property damage accident was reported on the Fort Road near the ski tow. Officer Kevin Reed responded to assist with traffic while the car, which had gone off the road due to slippery road conditions, was towed. Jaime L. Lynch, 34, of Fort Fairfield was listed as the operator and was uninjured.
A moose was struck by a vehicle operated by Barbara L. Collins, 80, of Blaine on the Houlton Road Jan. 11 around 5:49 p.m. near Perry’s Mini Mart. Reed covered the accident, assisted by an officer with the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office. Collins was not hurt and her car was towed by Brewer’s of Mars Hill. The moose sustained a broken leg and had to be euthanized.
The Fort Road was the site on Jan. 13 of another accident. Corp. Wayne Selfridge, PIPD, responded around 7:35 p.m. to a car off the road near Quoggy Jo. Shane Rucevice, of Presque Isle, called to report he and his girlfriend went off the road but were not hurt. A wrecker was called to tow them back onto the road. Minor damage to the vehicle was reported.
On Jan. 14 around 8:25 a.m., a call came in through 9-1-1 reporting a vehicle “well off the road” on the Washburn Road. Officer Chris Hayes, PIPD, responded. Debbie Plummer, 47, of Presque Isle, lost control of her 2006 Mitsubishi and left the road, coming to rest against a tree. Plummer complained of pain but refused the ambulance. The damaged car was towed by Mike Cowett’s Towing Service of Presque Isle.
Several accidents were reported on Jan. 15, with the first occurring about 12:16 p.m. on the Parsons Road. A 9-1-1 call from Thomas M. Peers, 31, of Presque Isle, was received by PIPD reporting two people in the vehicle but they weren’t injured. The vehicle was reportedly on its side. Peers told police he had someone there who could right the vehicle but they’d wait until an officer arrived. Hayes responded to the scene. Peers was identified as the driver of the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Shane Kinney, 32, was listed as the passenger. The Jeep sustained a reportable amount of damage.
A resident on the Cleaves Road complained to the PIPD around 12:39 p.m. on Jan. 15 that road conditions were making it difficult for trucks to make the hill. Officer Kevin Schumacher contacted the Highway Department to have someone put down sand.
A flooding water main was reported on Birch Street about 6:33 p.m. on Jan. 15. A resident of Jordan Street called expressing concern that water was heading toward his street. Officer Lynn Hartley, PIPD, made contact with Michael Howlett of the Presque Isle Water District to address water coming out of a manhole by the housing office on Birch Street.
Downed wires at the intersection of the McBurnie and Washburn roads were reported Jan. 16 around 8:17 a.m. by a McBurnie Road resident who indicated a pulp truck traveling from McBurnie to the Washburn Road had knocked down some lines. Officer Cole Chandler, PIPD, was assigned and requested Maine Public and the FairPoint be contacted to determine whose lines were involved.
A Davis Street resident called the PIPD on Jan. 16 at about 9:05 a.m. expressing concern over ice and frozen slush that built up near her residence and other homes as a result of the flooding the day before on Birch Street. Sgt. Eric Erickson, PIPD, made contact with Larry Demerchant of the Public Works Department who indicated he’d have someone try to smooth things over.
Several accidents were reported on State Street Extension Jan. 16 as a result of icy road conditions.
Around 11:34 a.m., Brent Holton, 41, of Fort Fairfield call police reporting he’d spun out with his 2009 Pontiac G6 on the top of the knoll on State Street Extension and was in the ditch. He wasn’t hurt and was able to get back on the road. He reported he tried to make it home but noticed he was leaking antifreeze and stopped at a garage to buy some. He didn’t think he could make it back to report the damage and asked to meet with an officer. Chandler responded to get more information on the accident.
Police received a call Jan. 16 around 2:25 p.m. of another accident on State Street Extension. Chandler responded to find a vehicle off the road. The officer requested the Highway Department be notified. The driver’s name and type of vehicle were not given in the log and no serious injuries were reported.
Around 5:11 p.m. on Jan. 16, police responded to a third accident on State Street Extension. A car driven by Paul Osterblom, of Fort Fairfield, went off the road, striking a guy wire. Maine Public Service was contacted and responded. No injuries were reported and a wrecker was called to tow the vehicle.
Police are reminding motorists to use caution when traveling this time of year, as road conditions fluctuate with the change in temperature and weather. Reduce speed accordingly and allow ample time to reach your destination.
