BRIDGEWATER, Maine — Police are still investigating an accident last week in which an 80-year-old woman was struck and killed by a potato truck.
State Police Sgt. Josh Haines said Monday that investigators are not yet ready to release more information about the death of Dorothy Rusby of Bridgewater, who died on Wednesday, Oct. 3, after being struck by a potato truck while working at a potato house.
Police believe Rusby had been working in the potato house at Snow Road Farms on Snow Road shortly before co-workers found her unresponsive in the yard that afternoon.
Police said Stephen Holmes, 47, of New Limerick, had arrived at the potato house a short time before to unload his 1994 Freightliner potato truck.
Haines said Holmes was unaware Rusby was nearby and didn’t see her as he pulled out of the potato house after unloading.
He struck her, and — unaware of what had happened — drove away, according to Haines.
Crown Ambulance responded to the scene but pronounced Rusby dead on arrival.
Haines said Monday that Rusby had worked for Snow Road Farms for a number of years, and employees told him that she always enjoyed working the harvest.
Rusby, who was from Massachusetts, moved to Maine in 1989. Her funeral took place in Monticello on Monday afternoon.
This is a sad story. One of the saddest is that she was still working at age 80.
My father-in-law is in his mid 70’s. Everything he has he owns. His vehicles,his home, it’s all owed outright. He doesn’t have to work at all. He’s been a farmer his whole life and even after he “retired” he still managed to find his way to the potato house. What he knows is invaluable and can’t be learned from any book. He also enjoys the socialization that comes from being with old friends and family. Farming is something that he loves and will always do. My Grandfather O.D.W. was the same way.
Actually, it was not sad at all that she was working. She loved to work the harvest and especially enjoyed the comradery with the crew at the farm. She had a strong work ethic that should be admired and was lucky to have the health that allowed her to keep at what she enjoyed. Dot did not have to work, she chose to work because she enjoyed it. Our family , though saddened by the loss of Grammy Dot, is glad that she lived her life the way she chose. Anyone that knew Dot could tell you she was full of life and you’d never of thought she was 80. We will all miss Dot, but none of us find it sad that she was working.
I’m sorry for your family’s loss
Best post ever, man.
Agreed. Not too many left like her. I started working harvest when I was about 5 and worked every day, all day, each harvest. That’s just what we did. My dad worked full time at the USPS, but every year he took vacation time to work the harvest driving truck. He luved it! Lost my dad the end of June at the age of 71 from cancer. Believe me, if he were here, he’d be out there workin it, too. RIP Dot & Dad.
This is a sad story indeed. A family lost a loved one and condolences to the family and I feel sad for the driver of the truck,but that’s where the sadness ends. If and when I get to be eighty, I hope I have just half the ambition as the hard working lady had. These people grew up on farms and are no strangers to hard work. One other bad thing is where do people like you get off on deciding it’s sad she was still working at 80? To the family of “Grammy Dot” again my condolences. You were lucky to have this hard working person in your lives.
Your condolences would be more believable had you stopped talking before your last sentence.