EXETER, Maine — A head-on collision on Avenue Road sent a newspaper carrier to the hospital Tuesday morning.
Bangor Daily News carrier Mark Franzose, 32, of Garland was driving his 2004 Jeep Liberty on the wrong side of the road while putting newspapers into boxes when he was hit by Jeffrey Tibbetts, 42, also of Garland, according to Penobscot County Sheriff’s Deputy Ed Toulouse.
Dispatchers received the call at 4:48 a.m.
“It was a good hit. It totaled both vehicles,” said Toulouse, adding that Franzose did not see the vehicle in front of him because of a knoll.
Franzose was taken by ambulance to Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield with an injury to his head that was not life-threatening. Toulouse said Franzose had a laceration to his head that required stitches.
Toulouse said Franzose had his wife and 2-year-old in the vehicle with him, but they were not injured. Tibbetts was unhurt and was the only occupant in his 1997 Honda Accord.
Newspaper carriers driving on the wrong side of the road to deliver papers has been a constant problem, said Toulouse.
“We’ve had issues with that in the past, as far as them darting over across the lane and being in a lane with headlights posted in the opposite direction. It’s not legal, either,” said Toulouse.
Toulouse didn’t charge Franzose for being on the wrong side of the road.
“He was wrong, but he got hurt. I think he learned his lesson, I hope,” said Toulouse.
“It was a good hit…”
“I think he learned his lesson…”
Deputy Ed Toulouse sounds like a truly caring public servant…
My thoughts exactly.
Ditto – good grief!
Poor guy…hope he’s ok. I guess that explains why I didn’t get my paper this morning:>(
Sorry, but i disagree completely about him not being summons. With this type of thinking anybody that is injured during the process of breaking the law has suffered enough and learned their lesson. Come on Andy get real.
The lady that hit me on my motorcycle broke the law but she was not summons an i was injured too 10 broken bone in my foot .
….
and you were not nor are not the only one that does this.. Early morning like that usually poses less of an issue but still things happen. I for one used to do it too.. why waste the gas to go to the end of the street and all the way back up.. not to mention you are wasting time that is precious.. God for bid if the papers arent delivered by 6 am!!!!! Gave this up though after the gas prices sky rocketed. no money in it, by the time you pay for your gas and wear n tear on your vehicle you might as well just stay home and sleep them wee hours of the morning!
….
LOL! And I thought I had it bad when I had to deliver papers on foot through the construction of 95 in the County! At least I only had to deal with the bellydumps and yukes. :)
Why would you have a 2yr old out that time of morning.
The baby belonged home with the mother. it only takes one to deliver papers.
He breaks the law by driving on the wrong side of road and an innocent men is out a vehicle and could have lost his life.
His insurance company probably doesn`t know he was using his vehicle for business.
….