HANCOCK, Maine — A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Thorsen Road and Route 1 sent three people to the hospital, but what could have resulted in much more serious injuries was prevented by seat belts.
“When I arrived, it looked like a bomb had exploded,” said Maine State Trooper Mike Southard. “I thought for sure I was going to be dealing with at least one fatality.”
The accident occurred at 1:12 p.m. near the Knights Inn motel as a 2004 Chevy TrailBlazer SUV driven by Danny Carter, 36, of Franklin collided with the back and left side of a 1998 Chevy S-10 pickup truck driven by Michael Fessenden, 29, of Lamoine.
John Brundage, 59, also of Lamoine was in the passenger seat of the pickup.
“Both vehicles were driving north, leaving Ellsworth and heading toward Hancock,” said Southard. “The vehicle in front — the pickup — was turning left onto Thorsen from Route 1 and, for whatever reason, the SUV driver didn’t see him, looked up and he was right there.
The pickup had already started to turn. [Fessenden] said he saw him coming in the rearview mirror and knew he would be hit.”
Southard said the SUV rammed the pickup from behind at an undetermined speed and launched the pickup off the road, upside down, resting on its roof.
“Brundage was able to get out after hanging upside down from the seat belt,” Southard said. “I initially thought he had been ejected, but I would say the seat belt absolutely saved his life or prevented him from injury. All three were wearing seat belts.”
While the pickup was completely totaled, the SUV fared a bit better as most of the damage was done to the driver’s side quarter panel.
Brundage and Fessenden were taken by County Ambulance to Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth, and Carter was driven to the same hospital with unknown injuries.
“I went to the hospital and spoke to all of them, and none had serious injuries, but all of them had significant pain,” Southard said.
An on-duty nurse at Maine Coast Memorial said she was unable to release the conditions of the three men or confirm whether or not they had been released Tuesday night.
Units from Hancock Fire Department also went to the accident scene, which limited vehicle traffic to at least one lane for the better part of an hour.
Police had to shut down Route 1 for 25 minutes to remove debris.
“The pickup had antifreeze in storage containers, so they deployed hazardous material cleanup sponges and Speedy Dry for oil, gasoline and antifreeze,” said Southard, who added that both vehicles were towed away by wrecker and considered totaled.
Maine State Police Sgt. Jeff Ingemi also responded along with Trooper Phil Pushard, who was off duty at the time.
So what is his excuse for not seeing a vehicle turning in an area where you can clearly see a good distance ahead of you?
Depending on where the sun is that time of day, sun glare is my first LEGIT thought.
1:12 pm? Not likely. More likely a cell phone distraction. Pay attention to the road, people.
Sun glare is not a legitimate excuse, though I know where you are coming from. We all need to adjust our speed to current conditions.
Sun glare is not an excuse for running into someone.
If you can’t see, slow down or stop.
they were heading east at midday. not a legit option there
No where does it say anyone was on the phone, and i know for a fact the guy in the truck wasn’t on the phone when this happened you dope, why don’t you read the whole story next time
Since it was the pickup that got hit it might be assumed that the guy driving the SUV that hit him might well have been on the phone. As you say, read the story and you might be able to follow along…
yes, he was distracted by the sounds, but not necessarily a phone. hate how people go off on agendas without knowing facts. just cause BND wrote article , doesnt mean it is 100% accurate… could have been messing with the air conditioner, radio, anything. things we all have to watch, but feel we can adjust at same time of driving. things only take a second to change. unfortunate mistake..
distracted driving is distracted driving regardless of whether it is because of a radio or a/c or a cell phone….so no agenda just speculation….
When looking at the pictures – you would have no idea the vehicle on it’s roof was a pick-up truck. the bed is completely gone by the looks of it. Of course, my first assumption when I read it was cell phone as well since the driver of the SUV said he “looked up and the truck was just there”… but it could have also been changing CDs or the radio station; hopefully police follow this through and can figure out what caused the crash. If it was a cell phone caused accident, I hope he learned his lesson!
How many times have you witnessed a “crash about to happen?” I’ve been forced to drive past my driveway many times when the headlights of the vehicle behind me appear larger than life in the back seat of my vehicle. Slowing to turn would be disastrous.
Bangor, like the rest of Maine, is notorious for tailgating. Even worse for drivers trying to sideswipe you as you attempt to pull out of driveways on Stillwater, Hogan, and even residential areas.
To exit the Stillwater Avenue link from Hannaford’s you have to kick in the after burners, floor the gas, and pray you’ll make it.
Connecting to Stillwater from State Street, NASCAR drivers bound for Wal-Mart and other warehouses, do not let up on the gas. They floor it like some crazed Khamakazi pilot trying to wipe you out.
Driving ain’t anything like it used to be in Maine. But then, not much else is, either.
I’m happy that no one perished in that miserable looking tangle of chrome, plastic, and carelessness.
“To exit the Stillwater Avenue link from Hannaford’s you have to kick in
the after burners, floor the gas, and pray you’ll make it.”
What about following the rules of the road and waiting until it is safe to enter the flow of traffic?
A green light does not necessarily guarantee safe passage. Especially when others choose not to follow the rules of the road.
This guy who hit the pickup has had multiple accidents.He should not have a license.He has a very,very heavy foot. He took out my boss and my coworker.I was there.