Cell phone use blamed for crash
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
BRIDGEWATER — A driver using a cell phone escaped serious injury Saturday when the vehicle she was operating veered from the travel lane on U.S. Route 1 and came in contact with a potato truck parked at the side of the road.
Photo courtesy of MSP
NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED in this crash on U.S. Route 1 in Bridgewater Saturday between a GMC Yukon and a potato truck. Angela Jordan, of Bridgewater, was driving north in the SUV, when she became distracted and struck the truck, owned by Good Farms Inc. Jordan sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Taylor Jameson, the truck’s operator, had pulled over to the side of the road to check a flat tire. Jameson was uninjured. Maine State Police investigated and determined cell phone factored into the crash.
“On Aug. 10 at approximately 8:30 a.m., Trooper Dennis Quint, Lt. John Cote and I responded to Route 1 in Bridgewater for a report of a two-vehicle crash,” said Sgt. Chad Fuller.
“Angela Jordan, 32, of Bridgewater, was driving her 2004 GMC Yukon north on U.S. Highway 1 in Bridgewater. Taylor Jameson, 20, of Monticello, who was operating a loaded potato truck owned by Good Farms, Inc., of Littleton, was parked on the right shoulder. He had his right turn signal activated and was checking the truck for a flat tire,” Fuller said.
Fuller said Jordan was distracted, swerved from her lane and rear-ended the truck.
“Jordan was using her cellular phone which caused her to be distracted, resulting in her vehicle drifting into the breakdown lane, striking the rear of the truck with her SUV,” said the sergeant.
Jordan was taken to The Aroostook Medical Center for serious but non-life-threatening internal injuries. Jordan was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash. Jameson was not in the truck when it was struck and was not injured.
“Jordan’s vehicle is a total loss and the potato truck sustained serious damage to the rear axles, frame and bumper,” said Fuller.
Bridgewater Fire Department and the Maine Warden Service assisted at the scene.
