ROCKLAND, Maine — Brake failure is blamed for a Sunday night crash that knocked over a Spanish-American War memorial.
Jonathan Ashley, 22, of Union was driving north on Main Street at about 8:30 p.m. and was attempting to turn left onto North Main Street when he reported his brakes failed, according to a Rockland Police Department police report.
The 1999 SUV drove onto Ulmer Park, knocked down a telephone pole and knocked over a large stone with a plaque that was erected in 1940 to honor the veterans of the Spanish-American War who served from 1898 to 1902, according to the report.
The telephone pole fell and struck a 2007 Toyota that was also heading north on Main Street, the report said. The pole struck the windshield of the vehicle, driven by Mellisa J. Fortuna, 49, of Rockport.
The SUV ended up on the monument and ran over several political signs and left deep marks on the grass of the park, according to the report.
Ashley’s vehicle was reportedly destroyed. Damage to the monument was estimated at $3,000. Damage to the pole was estimated at $1,000. There was no estimate on the damage to Fortuna’s vehicle.
There were no reported injuries.
Out of control for sure.
What a mess.
Hope no one was hurt.
I wonder how they managed to do that.. I’ve driven by that spot 1000000 times and have never seen an accident there. They must not have been paying attention.. They even managed to park it RIGHT on top of that rock. That must of took some skill lol
When I first read it, I thought the paper said the driver of the SUV had fought in the Spanish-American war. Before realizing I needed more coffee…I muttered to myself “well of course he crashed…dudes over 110 years old”
Coffee time…
Even though the Rough Riders of the Spanish American War were a Calvary outfit led by Colonel Roosevelt…in the end they ended up on foot too, just like this young man!
Well when I saw the headline I thought Rep. Cynthia Dill was up to her old tricks.
“The vehicle knocked down…. several political signs”
See….some good did come out of this!!! Just picking out the positve..
seriously though…..hope everyone is OK…
There is NO WAY one can experience a total brake failure on a post 1968 car!
Unless your wife likes the size of your life insurance policy more than she likes you!
You must watch a lot of Discovery ID! :)
That was about the time of duel circuits wasn’t it?
Yup! A complete failure is just about impossible without scraping all brake line over rocks.
Emergency Brake??? Where was it? Speed?
Where this young man hit a Spanish-American War Memorial….sort of gives new meaning to “Rough Riders” for those of you who did pay attention in US History class.
Why would anyone need brakes to make that turn when a slight movement of the steering wheel would do the job? Any person who drives that road every day must have groaned with disbelief when they read his “brakes failed.”
He might as well have said that he’d had a stroke.
Put him in a tank quick before he grows up and send him to Afghanistan.
The humble Farmer
Brake failure??
Gimme a break !
How about “excuse failure “?