Update: Accident closes Route One Thursday night, Damariscotta woman injured, charged
A rush hour accident at George Wright Road and Route One closed the state highway in Woolwich from George Wright Road to Nequasset Road on Thursday, Nov. 10 for five hours. The crash occurred just north of the southern intersection of George Wright Road and Route One.
The accident, just before 5 p.m., involved a 2012 Ford Focus and a 2008 Peterbilt tractor-trailer towing a tanker trailer.
According to Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry, “The tractor-trailer was traveling south on U.S. Rt. 1 when the Ford Focus, traveling north, veered directly into its path. The truck driver made every attempt to avoid the collision and ended up wedged against a line of guardrails.”
Merry said, “It is believed that the operator of the Ford Focus intentionally drove into the path of the oncoming tractor-trailer. If not for the actions of the truck driver, this would likely have been a fatal crash.”
The driver of the Ford Focus was identified as Sandra Francis, 36, of Damariscotta. She was transported to Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick with non-life threatening injuries. She has been charged with Reckless Conduct with a Dangerous Weapon, Operating Under the Influence, and Driving to Endanger.
Her arraignment date is Jan. 10, 2017 in West Bath District Court.
The driver of the Peterbilt was Robert Martin, 66, of Sunapee, New Hampshire. The truck was towing a 2008 Polar tanker trailer owned by Jay Maholtz Trucking of Strafford, New Hampshire. Martin was not injured.
The accident remains under investigation. The lead investigator is Sheriff’s Sgt. Dale Hamilton. The accident is being reconstructed by members of the Sheriff’s Office and the Brunswick Police Department. The Woolwich Fire Department and EMS and the Maine State Police assisted at the scene.
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