HARRISON, Maine — A woman and her mother died Wednesday in a crash with a fully loaded logging truck, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
Linda S. Labonte, 63, of Harrison, driver of the Ford Mustang, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Carmen R. Smith, 85, of Harrison later was pronounced dead at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.
Police reported the accident occurred about 3:30 p.m. on Route 117. Labonte’s Mustang crossed the centerline and traveled into the path of the truck, driven by Jeffery Coffin, 43, of South Paris, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.
Coffin left the road in an effort to avoid the oncoming car but still was struck, police said.
The truck’s load of logs spilled, as did about 180 gallons of diesel fuel, police said. The Department of Environmental Protection was called to the scene of the crash to clean up the fuel.
The accident remains under investigation. No further information was available late Wednesday.
terrible. my heart goes out to their family.
Understood and respected. I would also like to see sympathy for the trucker, who did what he could to try to avoid the accident. We couldn’t ask more from him.
I agree, BigUglyCat. Just seeing the picture of the driver standing at roadside, when the story was first reported yesterday, it made my heart ache for him. The drivers of these big trucks
must live in fear of such an accident.
My dad carried hazmat and was involved in a parking lot accident under 10 mph-no injuries and not his fault.The investigation took months and he had his hazmat certification invalidated (later returned)Truckers are the unsung heroes of the road and most will help anyone.My thoughts and prayers to all involved.
I agree. We never know what the day ahead will bring upon us .
A tragedy for all involved.
So sorry for the familys loss…I feel bad for the truck driver as well….I hope in time he realizes that he did everything he could to prevent this tragedy-he even put his own life on the line to try and prevent this….see, not ALL truckers are bad…theres good ones out there too. My husband is a truck driver, and he has stuff happen like this all of the time where he encounters people who stupidly from lack of good judgement (like talking on a cell phone, reading while driving, texting while driving, or applying makeup while driving-to name a few) carelessly put themselves and him at risk by their careless driving. In this case it was an accident and couldnt be avoided though. My prayers go out to the driver and the deceased womens families.
People on here think truck drivers are evil now??? Wow! I ride a motorcycle and have had so many people ask me how I like driving past the big trucks on the narrow little roads around here. Truth is, I feel far more comfortable sharing the road with the truckers than I do the average joe/Jane on the road.
I know that’s not the topic of this discuss so sorry to stray. I just couldn’t help but comment. This story is truly tragic and i send condolences to the families of these ladies.
I’m so glad you share my point of view on truckers…sadly there are some that don’t appreciate the sacrifices and dangers that truck drivers are faced with every day.
I’d share the road anyday with a trucker over a teenager!
Not today, but over the past couple of years there have been many snide remarks about the “speeding overloaded trucks”. As a one time trucker (ancient history), I can say these comments are refreshing.
Very sad situation for everyone involved. Condolences to the families and friends of these ladies.
How horrible for the truck driver to see a car coming at him, on his side of the road. I can not ever imagine that. You truly are a hero in that you really tried everything to avoid this. Do not think you were to blame.
For the family and friends of this Mother and Daughter, sincere condolences for your losses. I hope you find peace and comfort in each other.
Truckers often get a bad rap. Several fatal accidents I have been made aware of involving trucks have been the result of a vehicle crossing the center line into the path of a large truck. Often the truck driver puts himself off the road to avoid the collision, risking their own life, and then must deal with the guilt and the what-ifs when the person that hit them dies. Its a sad case no matter who is at fault.
What a heroic effort by the trucker trying to avoid the crash.
No one has said why this car crossed in front of the truck, whose driver clearly did the very best he could to avoid hitting the car. I am not going to assume anyone was doing anything wrong, maybe the car had a tire blow out, or some other catastrophic failure that prevented the driver from controlling the vehicle.
My condolences and prayers for the deceased, their families and friends, and for the truck driver who really tried to avoid this. Mr. Coffin, I know you must be going through a thousand emotions a minute, but the picture above tells us you are NOT to blame. Now would be the time to reach out to family, friends, and fellow truckers and let them support you. My prayers are with you.
I commend Mr. Coffin for risking his life to avoid a collision with the other vehicle. My thoughts go out to you, Mr. Coffin. Also, my sincerest sympathies to the family of the those who were lost.
That looks like the wheel of the convertible under the truck.