DIXMONT, Maine — A midcoast man escaped life-threatening injuries early Tuesday morning when he lost control of his tractor-trailer on Route 7, according to police.
Mark Wallace, 55, of Rockport was hauling what Deputy Ed Toulouse called a “fertilizer-type substance” toward Newport when his front wheel went into the shoulder of the road, causing him to lose control.
The truck, a 2011 Freightliner, eventually came to rest on the passenger side, according to Toulouse. The impact of the rollover ejected Wallace from the truck, which landed on his left shoulder, pinning him to the ground.
Wallace’s rig also clipped a Central Maine Power utility pole, causing power lines to fall on top of the truck, according to Toulouse. Officials shut off the electricity so emergency personnel could free Wallace.
Wallace was freed after about a half an hour, the deputy said, and was transported to Eastern Maine Medical center for injuries considered serious but not life-threatening. Toulouse said it’s possible a medical condition was a factor in the crash, but authorities are still investigating a cause.
Wallace’s truck was demolished in the crash while the trailer he was hauling was salvageable, Toulouse said. The deputy added Wallace was en route to the greater Newport area “to drop off fertilizer to various farmers.”
State police and the Department of Environmental Protection also responded to the scene, while CMP officials are working to restore electricity.
This man was not freed by emergency personnel. He was freed by a team of men from the IBEW Electrical Union who came upon the accident.
A truck fell on him! OUCH!!! Bad way to start the work week.
Maybe some day they might slow down but I doubt it.
If this Commercial Driver was wearing his seat belt he would have not been ejected or the truck rolled on to him. Nothing says here that his log book was inspected either after an accident or for that matter a ticket was given for driving a commercial vehicle without wearing a seat belt. I am glad that he is alright. Did the Cops even show up or do their jobs?
If he drives within 150 miles from his home base he doesn’t need a log book I don’t think. People alway think its easy driving an truck, they should ride with a truck driver and see just how hard it is.
100 air miles – no log book. You were pretty close.
True but he still must fill out daily safety inspection sheets. If the incident occurred as reported with the front wheel going off the road then he was falling asleep or was not paying attention either way his fault.
This company uses log books for its drivers. Also to the comment of fertilizer substance, it wasnt manure, it was from a plant in rockland most likely. Too bad on the accident, but as even car drivers know, it can be scarey when you get a wheel in the shoulder and then fight to get it back, its even worse in a truck. Take care Mark, hoping for a quick recovery.
100 miles and/or working over 12 hours.
They’ll look everything over, trust me. There was a police officer on site. I went through the accident site not long after it happened.
What does his log have to do with it? Good thing the public and media doesn’t victimize us drivers. (read my other comment before trashing me)
The Driver of this truck is my nephew Mark Wallace. It was POURING rain. Bad visiblity. Tons of water on the roads. VERY soft shoulders.He WAS wearing a seatbelt [later confirmed] He was thrown so hard to the right that he was thrown OUT of the belting! Mark is one of the most safety conscious men I have ever met! When we snowmobile as a family, we razz him for his “safety first” checks! He has a LONG, CLEAN driving record [and life!].
He suffered multiple serious injuries & is undergoing his second surgery as I write this. He is strong & will make a full speedy recovery!
His Angels were riding with him yesterday!
PLEASE…… don’t assume articles like this have the “whole truth” & don’t make blanket statements about what someone did or should have been, or done…….. You weren’t there, you don’t know the man or the truth.
PS… He isn’t 55 either! :-]
Would someone please explain to Maine’s regulatory agencies that accidents happen, no matter how many rules and regulations they come up with to enforce? Thank you.
“Deputy Ed Toulouse called a “fertilizer-type substance” toward Newport”
Aww if you cant say it came from a cows tail, just call it manure.
Sounds like a load of crap to me!
Leave it to BDN to get it right.
some people do not under stand how hard it is to control a truck when it slips the edge of the pavement if they only know how hard it is to fight the truck and to save it and keep others safe also
I could’ve sworn federal and state law (along with good sense) required us CDL operators to wear a seatbelt?
Maybe, but it also just makes sense
The Driver of this truck is my nephew Mark Wallace. It was POURING rain. Bad visiblity. Tons of water on the roads. VERY soft shoulders.He WAS wearing a seatbelt [later confirmed] He was thrown so hard to the right that he was thrown OUT of the belting! Mark is one of the most safety conscious men I have ever met! When we snowmobile as a family, we razz him for his “safety first” checks! He has a LONG, CLEAN driving record [and life!].
He suffered multiple serious injuries & is undergoing his second surgery as I write this. He is strong & will make a full speedy recovery!
His Angels were riding with him yesterday!
PLEASE…… don’t assume articles like this have the “whole truth” & don’t make blanket statements about what someone did or should have been, or done…….. You weren’t there, you don’t know the man or the truth.
PS… He isn’t 55 either! :-]
Gumshoe detectives commenting…..
The Driver of this truck is my nephew Mark Wallace. It was POURING rain. Bad visiblity. Tons of water on the roads. VERY soft shoulders.He WAS wearing a seatbelt [later confirmed] He was thrown so hard to the right that he was thrown OUT of the belting! Mark is one of the most safety conscious men I have ever met! When we snowmobile as a family, we razz him for his “safety first” checks! He has a LONG, CLEAN driving record [and life!].
He suffered multiple serious injuries & is undergoing his second surgery as I write this. He is strong & will make a full speedy recovery!
His Angels were riding with him yesterday!
PLEASE…… don’t assume articles like this have the “whole truth” & don’t make blanket statements about what someone did or should have been, or done…….. You weren’t there, you don’t know the man or the truth.
PS… He isn’t 55 either! :-]