MILFORD, Maine — Weather conditions Friday that ranged from wet, heavy snow to slush and freezing rain spawned motor vehicle accidents throughout Penobscot County.
County, state and local police were called to more than 20 crashes, most of them minor, between 4 a.m. through midafternoon. The accidents continued through early evening.
The fact that many schools were closed and events canceled meant thousand of Mainers who otherwise would have been out on the roads stayed home.
The list of accidents in Penobscot County included two that were reported within seconds of each other at 2:18 p.m. in Milford and Hermon.
The Milford accident sent two people to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries, including scrapes, bruises and complaints of pain, Deputy Ray Goodspeed of the Penobscot Country Sheriff’s Department said.
Corey Eldridge, 26, of Hermon and his passenger, 23-year-old Jessica Ireland of Bangor both were taken to a Bangor hospital for treatment of their injuries, which Goodspeed said were not considered life-threatening.
Goodspeed said the accident happened when Eldridge, who was headed north, lost control of his 2002 Dodge pickup on Route 2, near Highway Service. Eldridge slid into the southbound traveling lane, nearly colliding with an oncoming vehicle, the deputy said. After the truck regained traction, it left the roadway and struck a utility pole.
Though Eldridge may have been traveling under the posted speed limit of 45 mph, he was still driving too fast for the road conditions, Goodspeed said.
Messy roads as well as driver inexperience were factors in the Hermon accident, which occurred on Newburgh Road, Penobscot County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Parady said.
Though that accident did not result in injury, it did result in heavy damage to an older model Ford Explorer driven by an 18-year-old, he said. The Ford got caught up in the slush and was pulled off the roadway, glancing off a utility pole, Parady said.
“The roads were slushy, unfortunately for us in Hermon,” Parady said late Friday afternoon. “Some people don’t know when to slow down and take extra time to get to their destinations.”
Parady reminded drivers to reduce speeds and exercise caution when roads are slippery and to anticipate potential hazards along their routes.
Remember, you ARE invincible if you have 4WD. Put the pedal to the metal!
Exactly, speed doesn’t kill. Deceleration though… that can be a b*tch.
“The roads were slushy, unfortunately for us in Hermon,” Parady said late Friday afternoon. “Some people don’t know when to slow down and take extra time to get to their destinations.”
You got that right….
Weather conditions are never responsible for accidents. Dim wits who refuse to slow down are. Sometimes 5 mph is too fast for conditions if you are on glare ice. Every year the winter and bad weather comes and every winter the EMS crews have to extract members of the slow learner’s club from their vehicles. The word “news” implies something new, there is nothing new here.
Yep,, should have known, a dodge…
How much snow did you get in Bangor Friday? Did the rain wash it away?
BGR got four inches. The rain didn’t wash it away; instead, the snow soaked up the water like a sponge and created slush which then froze overnight. Yecch. Things are thawing a bit now however…
Most of the new 4×4 trcuks are equipped with traction control and vehicle skid control. Most people don’t realize that these vehicles actually drive better in 2wd in snow and ice conditions. When 4×4 is activated the vechicle skid control is turned off.
4×4 or 2 WD slow down!!!!!
Ok Nimwits who werent there, I Could of smashed into the other truck head on and injured more people, Speed wasnt an issue I was going slower then most people and when I hit the bridge and For you idiots that dont know Bridges Freeze quicker then roads do I started sliding When I dodged the other vehicle I over corrected, Its a 2 wheel drive truck with no weight in the back when I hit the slush The back slid out leaving me heading straight for the pole, It could of happened to any of you in any vehicle going at any speed, I had a clean driving record til this and I already feel horriable enough about it without all you idiots thinking your smart. by the way it was right over a bridge and on a corner do the math .
You should know the papers NEVER get the facts right…glad you & ur passenger are ok…
You drive about as well as you spell and punctuate.
Didn’t read the rules about name calling either. :)
Never heard of an out of control vehicle that was moving too slowly…..It couldn’t happen.
Glad you’re ok though.
“Speed wasnt an issue I was going slower then most people and when I hit
the bridge and For you idiots that dont know Bridges Freeze quicker then
roads do I started sliding…”
It sounds like speed definitely was an issue. You were driving too fast for the conditions if you couldn’t maintain control of your vehicle.
I had complete control of that truck til I hit that bridge, you ever slipped on the ice walking? would you consider speed an issue then? Ice is ice it dont pick favorites and I bet most of you have been in a ditch yourselves just wouldnt be a good time to bring that up. I am not even trying to be rude about it but if people are gonna speak without knowing so they can feel accomplished someone should have the right to defend there actions.
Speed had to be an issue because you did a lot of damage to your vehicle. That sort of damage does not happen without a considerable amount of speed.
I’d have to disagree you can lose control at any speed in bad conditions 10mph or 50mph doesnt matter when roads are crappy
I have a ford ranger and have to drive alot everyday. It isn’t a 4 wd so I have weight in the back. I do know what it is like to lose control and it has happened to me on black ice. I agree that bridges are the worst and I go really really slow. To the people who don’t like going slow when the roads are bad, I will not end up in the ditch,hurt myself or others. I also find it funny( being sarcastic ) that in bad weather on the interstate with the speed limit being down to 45,that the state police pass going about 80?? And usually the passing lane is the worst. I always wonder if i will see them up ahead off the road or causing an accident. This has been a mild winter,but now we are seeing alot of freezing rain and people are driving crazy. Glad you are ok Corey.
I need a giant bumper sticker that says this:
” To the people who don’t like going slow when the roads are bad, I will not end up in the ditch, hurt myself or others.”
Hmmmmm I think I should get a bumper sticker saying that!!!! Good idea!!
I like that you are on here defending yourself Corey I dont usually see that! :) Glad you guys are ok!
From his facebook wall:
Some people are “redacted” idiots, All of you “redacted” who got nothing better to do then run your mouth on Bangordailynews.com need to get a life, Next time Ill hit the other vehicle and give you all more dirt to run your faces about.. the 4 people on the scene knew I did everything in my power and speed wasnt an issue.
Did the reporter just skip over this part or is there a reason why these drivers were not charged with imprudent speed?
Remind me never to eat at Applebees again.