At 2:31 a.m. July 1, the Lincoln County Communications Center received a report of a head-on motor vehicle collision on Route 1 in Damariscotta. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Midcoast Road and Route 1. A median divides Route 1 in that area.

 The preliminary investigation showed a 2011 Toyota Tacoma was traveling northbound on Route 1 on the southbound side of the median.  After traveling about a quarter mile on the wrong side of the median, the Toyota encountered a 2014 Volvo tractor-trailer traveling in the southbound lane. The tractor-trailer attempted to avoid the collision; however, the Toyota struck the tractor-trailer in the southbound lane. 

The female passenger of the Toyota was ejected from the vehicle. She was believed to have not been wearing a seat belt. Central Lincoln County Ambulance transported her to Lincoln Health Miles Campus with serious injuries to her lower extremities, then was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland for further car. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.  The male passenger of the tractor-trailer, who was unrestrained in the sleeper compartment, was also transported to Lincoln Health Miles Campus in Damariscotta for evaluation of back pain. The driver of the Volvo tractor-trailer, owned by Maine Paper and Food of New York, Edgar Garcia, 26, of Springfield, Massachusetts, and the driver-owner of the Toyota, Branden Bezio, 26, of Tenant’s Harbor, were wearing seat belts and were not hurt.

Bezio was taken into custody and charged with Operating under the Influence Class D. His initial court appearance is Aug. 31 at the Lincoln County Courthouse.

The Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the crash’s reconstruction and the Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit is assisting with the commercial vehicle as is required by law. The Damariscotta Fire Department also helped at the scene. 

During the preliminary investigation, Route 1 was completely shut down until about until 6:30 a.m. when one-way traffic was restored. Both lanes of travel were restored at 8:21 a.m.

Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office for further review.