AUBURN, Maine — A two-car crash Sunday at the intersection of Minot Avenue and Allain Park has claimed the life of an Auburn man and left an Arundel man in critical condition, according to a news release from Auburn police.
Rick Farr, 43, of Auburn was traveling east on Minot Avenue in a silver Audi when it was struck by a westbound Jeep Cherokee hauling a snowmobile trailer operated by 37-year-old Matthew Harris of Arundel.
The impact of the crash split the Audi in half and sent the Jeep Cherokee into a telephone pole, bringing down the primary power lines.
Farr, who was alone in the vehicle, was killed instantly. As of Sunday night, Harris was in critical condition at Central Maine Medical Center.
Harris’s passenger, 35-year-old Sherri Walkeling of Arundel, was in satisfactory condition at CMMC.
Crowds gathered on either side of the yellow police tape as officers reconstructed the crash, took photos and cleared the road of debris.
The Audi was completely broken in two, with pieces of the car strewn across yards, the street and the driveway of a home at the intersection.
The second vehicle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee hauling a trailer with a snowmobile, was about 500 feet away on Minot Avenue in front of the nursing facility. Another 500 feet up the road were the trailer and snowmobile.
Preliminary investigation shows that Harris may have experienced some type of medical event just prior to the accident, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.
The crash remains under investigation. The Auburn police are being assisted by an accident reconstructionist from the Maine State Police.
Auburn Public Works, United Ambulance, Central Maine Power, FairPoint Communications and Time Warner Cable also assisted at the scene.
The neighborhood was without power for several hours until Central Maine Power crews replaced the utility pole that was sheared in half as a result of the accident. Minot Avenue was also closed until about 7 p.m. for accident reconstruction and utility work.
My sympathies to the families of all involved. I would think that this would not be a sound endorsement for the safety features of an Audi. Considering the level of damage to the car, I would be questioning the integrity of the engineering of that particular vehicle.
it was a medical problem, not sure what.
I will give $1,000,000 reward to the first person that can show me a photo of a Maine cop pulling over a vehicle hauling a snowmobile trailer for a traffic violation and issuing a ticket.
You wont. it doesnt happen in maine. or not that often.
I have seen tractor trailers,log trucks, an oscar Myer truck get pulled over. i have seen a cop pull over an unmarked cop car. here in Skowhegan, the town street sweeper got pulled and got a ticket.
I have never seen a vehicle hauling a snowmobile trailer get pulled despite the fact, every time you see a ‘vehicle hauling a snowmobile trailer’ they are either speeding, going thu red lights,…. always pulling some sort of baloney on the road.
Supposedly, because many are tourists, Maine does not like to pull them over, or just give them warnings. To protect the tourist industry. Maybe that is hogwash, nevertheless vehicles hauling a snowmobile trailer’never seem to get stopped by police.
Really???? I got stopped last year pulling a snowmobile for a head light out. I think you should get offline for a while and see the world, then maybe your future posts will have some kind of logic to them. Happy travels and look out for those evil snomobilers!
My thoughts and sympathy goes out to the family and friends of all involved in the crash.
It was a medical issue, from what i was told by the passengers sister it was either a stroke or a seizure.. they were going the speed limit and when it started his foot put the pedal to the floor, she unbuckled herself to try and move his foot off the gas pedal, she was unbuckled when they hit… if you know anything about seizures you would understand how hard that might be. You shouldn’t speak until you know the facts.
What a terrible accident. It’s too bad she didn’t think to click it in neutral.
Really sad. Speedy recovery to Mr. Harris. RIP Mr. Farr. To Ms Walkeling you tried to prevent this horrible accident from happening. I do thank you for that.
We’re having some of the worst automobile crashes Maine has ever experienced.
Excessive speed?
not just that, although that’s certainly a factor in many of the fatalities this year.
Speed, alcohol, driver inexperience, overall stupidity have been the players this year.
Far too many accidents.
Bad car accident in Washington County this weekend… One killed….. Where is the story on that accident???
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/02/06/news/downeast/whiting-teen-16-killed-in-east-machias-accident/
Thanks….
This is sad news. I must say, however, at least it was reported while an accident in Washington county that claimed the life of a high school student on Sunday morning is not reported. Does it matter where you are or only if it is easy to get a photo of the damage?
This one?
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/02/06/news/downeast/whiting-teen-16-killed-in-east-machias-accident/
seems my rant at the snowmobile trailer hater was censored. Really BDN ? I played semi nice and didnt swear, no license plates were given out and I didn’t even exaggerate anything.. just places things and stupidity. go figure.