ELLSWORTH, Maine — Fatigue may have been a factor in the fatal head-on collision Friday afternoon on Route 1.
Killed was Austin Grant, 23, of Freedom.
Sgt. Glenn Moshier of the Ellsworth Police Department said Saturday that Grant was traveling west on Route 1 near the intersection with the Happytown Road when his 2000 Chevy S10 pickup drifted into the eastbound lane. Grant’s vehicle collided head-on with a 2007 GMC 2500 HD, a heavy duty pickup, pulling a camper trailer and traveling east.
The crash was reported at 5:28 p.m.
Grant was not wearing a seat belt, but the damage was so severe that police believe it would not have helped him survive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dale Bartley, 52, the driver of the eastbound truck, suffered scratches and cuts. His wife, Catherine Bartley, 52, suffered a contusion on her right hip. Both were using seat belts. The couple’s granddaughter, who Moshier estimated was 7 or 8 years old, complained of abdominal pain, probably from her seat belt, the officer said.
All three were transported by ambulance to Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth, where they were treated and released.
Grant was a lobster fisherman, Moshier said, who they believe was returning to Freedom after a day at work, and may have fallen asleep while driving.
A lot of people have been falling asleep behind the wheel. If you are tired, pull over and take a nap. I’ve done it a few times myself. A 30 minute nap can do wonders.
My heart is heavy for this young man’s family.
Why do you always have to say something like that to stories where there is loss of life? If you can’t say you are sorry for the family, or something along that line, why say anything? You show your indifference when you do that.
Excuse me for stating the truth. I have driven tired more than once and more than once I have pulled over and took a nap because I knew if I continued on I might fall asleep.
I have no clue why the truth offends you.
The ‘truth’ does not offend me, the fact that this is a tragic story about a young man that lost his life, and yet you feel it is necessary to lecture, without even acknowledging and showing compassion for the loss of life offends me. And the sad part is that I don’t think you understand that. I have seen someone else state something like that to you and you missed their point also. Take a moment and think about it….. Let me give you an example of how you MIGHT have posted your comment compassionately and still said what you wanted: ‘I am so sorry this occurred. My condolences to the family. Let the loss of this young man serve a better purpose in reminding all of us that a 15 minute nap might just make the difference.’
In this comment phrased the way I did, I acknowledged the loss of life, and showed compassion towards the family FIRST, and still got your point across about a nap.
I phrased it differently, but said the same thing you did, and it is much less offensive.
Personally I wouldnt say it at all, but I am not you.
Snady: Keven is obnoxious on so many levels. He gets his jollies from making stupid comments. He hasn’t had a post on this website yet that was intelligent, don’t expect anything to change now. In this case, he takes a sad story and makes it all about him. What a guy! A hero, he pulls over and takes a nap. Take his comments with a grain of salt.
The fact that this person doesn’t wrte what you think he should is irrelevant. He makes a very good point. I have had to pull off an exit several times for a quick 20-30 min nap and it really does help. I am very sad for this family and they are in my prayers but giving people an opinion of what may help with this problem is a great idea.
Very sad. I am so sorry for the loss of this young life. My condolences to his family.
So sad to see these accidents happen, thoughts and prayers to his family.
As a driver of this road on a daily basis, I wish the cops could be hanging out around more times then not, just because each morning there are just so many drivers that speed thru this stretch……..and even though speed wasnt involved its just a thought that more of these sad events are going to be happening. Be safe to the rest of the weekend and thru the holiday week!
If anyone has noticed, Kevin of bangor always posts on all stories….I heard that he works for BDN…and tried to get people going with negative things………So sad for the family of this young man…..
I don’t work for the BDN and I don’t post on every story. Not sure where you folks get your information from but I find it amusing.
Kevin, are you a troll?
Are you a mole?
Don’t confuse Kevin of Bangor with Kevin Bennett who DOES work for the BDN. Kevin Bennett is a nice guy, and an excellent photographer. ‘Kevin of Bangor’ is neither.
Prayers for this man’s family and all who knew and loved him…. Way too many deaths this summer already, and we have barely begun as of yet. Please. people, be safe!