DATE: Friday, January 10, 2014
STATE OF MAINE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
MAINE STATE POLICE
PRESS RELEASE
TROOPER: Trooper Jason Wing
TROOP: B
CONTACT #: 207-657-3030
INCIDENT DETAILS
DATE/TIME: 01-09-14 / 1005 HRS
LOCATION: Morton Cut-Off Road - Lower Cupsuptic Township
NATURE: Personal Injury Motor Vehicle Crash
OPERATOR 1: Robert Thorndike
AGE: 56
TOWN, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Phillips, ME
VEHICLE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL: 2001 logging truck
ALCOHOL/DRUG INVOLVED (Y/N/UNK): N
SPEED INVOLVED (Y/N): N
SEAT BELT/HELMET WORN (Y/N): Y
OPERATOR 2: Kenneth Thomas
AGE: 47
TOWN, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Phillips, ME
VEHICLE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL: 2012 GMC P/U
ALCOHOL/DRUG INVOLVED (Y/N/UNK): N
SPEED INVOLVED (Y/N): N
SEAT BELT/HELMET WORN (Y/N): Y
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
On 01-09/14 at approximately 10:05 AM Robert “Bob” Thorndike was operating a GMC pick-up on the ice covered Morton Cut-Off road in Lower Cupsuptic Township. Kenneth Thomas was operating a tractor-trailer unit with an empty log trailer heading the opposite direction of Thorndike. Both operators were struggling to maintain their lane position due to deep ruts in the frozen roadway. As the vehicles met, Thorndike’s pick-up came into contact with the log trailer of Thomas’ TT unit causing severe front end damage to the pick-up and injuring Thorndike in the impact. Thorndike was trapped in the pick-up until he was extricated by members of the Rangeley Fire Rescue Department.
Thorndike was transported by NorthStar EMS to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington before being transferred to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston with non-life threatening injuries. Thomas was not injured in the crash.
Trooper Jason Wing investigated the crash and was assisted by Tr. David Powser, U.S. Border Patrol Agents, and Trooper Bernard Campbell from the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit. Road conditions were a factor in the crash.
INCIDENT PHOTO (Y/N): Y
