BURNHAM, Maine — A Millinocket man escaped serious injury early Friday morning when a logging truck he was driving overturned on Interstate 95, according to police.
Maine State Police Trooper Sean Kinney said Joseph Paradis, 37, was heading southbound when a deer ran across the roadway near mile marker 142, causing him to swerve in an attempt to avoid the animal.
“He probably thought he had enough room to move around but he just misjudged a little bit,” Kinney said.
Kinney said once Paradis crossed into the median he tried to drive back onto the roadway but soft ground because of recent rains caused Paradis’ rig to roll over.
The truck blocked both southbound lanes, with logs spilling onto the median, causing police to shut down that part of the interstate completely about 5 a.m.
Kinney said the highway was reopened within a half hour and crews had the scene cleaned up by 9:30 a.m.
Paradis was driving a truck owned by Robin A. Crawford and Sons Co. out of Lincoln, and Kinney believes he was heading to the Fairfield mills.
Paradis complained of rib injuries at the scene and was taken to Sebasticook Valley Medical Center in Pittsfield for treatment, Kinney said. Paradis also suffered some cuts to his face.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is becoming a weekly event around Maine. At least no one was killed this time.
With fewer people hunting for meat or sport this is not going to be the last wild animal caused wreck. Perhaps in the future the state wll increase the limit for those that do hunt. I once had a cloce call with a wild turkey while on a motorcycle. That could have been a mess !
Never swerve to avoid animals in the roadway with exception of moose and bear and in a trailer truck I would not swerve for anything smaller than an elephant.
Jeezum Joe, yer in a loggin’ truck fer cryin’ out loud. Squash the critter like a bug n’ keep truckin’. Lookit the mess you caused on 95!!!
The initial reaction when something appears on the roadway in front of one driving is to jerk the wheel and swerve to avoid collision …..it happens to everyone…..just like when a bird or object hits your windshield the first thing you do is duck out of the way even though you won’t get hit….when driving something this large or driving any vehicle at interstate speed this is the exact consequence of reflexes….glad the driver or anyone else for that matter wasn’t seriously injured or killed…..