MEXICO, Maine — A construction site flagger from Dixfield was listed in critical condition at a Portland hospital Friday night with injuries after being run over on Route 2 near the Toll Bridge, police Lt. Roy Hodsdon said.
Alan Smith, 45, was standing in the road directing traffic at the bridge construction site at about 2:20 p.m. when he was struck by a pickup driven by Michael Tremblay, 54, of Bingham, the investigator said.
Smith was run over by the two passenger-side tires of the 2009 Dodge truck and dragged 10 feet onto the sidewalk near Rowe’s Afternoon Delite. The truck traveled on and struck a guy wire on a utility pole before it stopped, Hodsdon said.
Smith was taken to Rumford Hospital and later transported to Maine Medical Center, where a nursing supervisor said late Friday night that his condition was critical.
Smith was working for Project Flagging of Maine, a company that provides the state highway departments of Maine and New Hampshire with certified flaggers.
Tremblay was not injured, Hodsdon said, and no charges had been filed.
As of Friday night, Hodsdon said police were not sure why Tremblay hit Smith.
“I still have some follow-up interviews with witnesses to do, so hopefully we’ll know something very soon,” the lieutenant said.
Police reconstructionists will help to determine how the accident occurred.
I worked for the Maine Department of Transportation for 25 years.I am sorry but there are so many people that do not pay any attention to work sites.These people that injure others should be injured as well. Hope this man recovers.
That is pretty nasty to wish injury on the driver as well. I do agree a VERY stiff fine
is in order and lots of people don’t slow down in the work areas. I ALWAYS slow down to the posted speed in the work zones. There is one at mile 133 posted at 40mph. It invariably pisses off one or two behind me when I do 40mph. I have had
a few “salutes” because of it. Could care less.
I bet you would think my way if this person that got hit was a family member of yours.
I wasn’t brought up that way. What ails you anyway?.
I don’t see how it would make things better if the driver got mangled too.
If people knew they would get what they done back.They would think alot more .
My sister was hit by a car as a child. No member of my family wished the driver harm.
That is why people keep doing it.People dont think the person that hit someone else should pay for it.
It surprises me these things to not happen more often. You are right, people don’t pay attention in these construction sites. How many signs can possibly be posted to warn motorists of a lane closure, a flagger ahead, etc. Go down I95, and when people see the signs fines double, speed limit 40 they race you all the way to the blinking arrow to get ahead of you and nearly wreck you. I know it would be too much to ask of proper Police Departments to enforce these or slap out a pace car in a zone to control speed.
I am surprised this does not happen more often, people need to read, obey and stop thinking everything is fine if they don’t read. I don’t understand unless the flagger had a death wish or a mechanical problem took place how else this could happen, and when these people get the OK to move through they don’t pay attention still, they are too busy staring over at what is happening and seen people almost hit construction vehicles off to the side over it.
Thank you.You are a real person.Not many left like you.
I read the book before the state gave me my license, others should have too, what really made me take driving more serious was the older gentlemen who took me for my test and the only thing I failed at was how far I was to have my directional on, I replied “50 feet” and I swear he jumped right out of the passenger seat and said “50 Feet where did you read that?” and I said “The book” and he said “You and I must be reading two different books and the last I knew, mine was right…it’s 100 feet and don’t forget it” As minor as it sounds I made sure when he gave me the famous slip to go get my license to confirm I pass that the rules of the road are serious, today it seems like they get handed out like penny candy. Not that I wish workers get hurt, but as many times as I witness how other drivers handle an upcoming construction zone why more wrecks don’t happen more often, the signs are there for a reason and the request is not that difficult. People complain the roads are not fixed, the bridges this and that etc but would also be the first ones to nearly cause a wreck. As annoying as it sounds if the law won’t help, I wish the DOT or construction company would put out a pace car and force everyone behind them to do the speed limit
Yes ive work for DOT to an there are 2 things they told .
1 you make sure you have a place to run if the person does not stop .
2 you make eye contact at all times .
I had a young lady tries to run my sign i got her stop an ask her how come she did not stop when i wanted her to an she told me ” I have not intention of stopping for you ive never seen the DOT work here before .
Only if they are 100% at fault.. Other then that thats we’re the name accident came from!!
I assume there WILL be a severe fine for what happened!! Prayers for the injured man!
money would help a lot more the prayers, that does nothing for him.
I would hope the driver is charged. How can you not see someone dressed in reflective clothing but then again, several people have managed to run into big yellow school buses this year.
Don’t assume things before the whole investigation is done.. Prays to both families..
Thank you.
The guy was stoped at the stop sign and guned it and hit him..
Worked for the state when it was the State Highway Dept not DOT. I worked occasionally in construction sites and sites requiring slow down. I think it would be amazing to some how little some pay attention to what is happening on the road around them. It was as if they never saw any signs. When I worked there one person was hit with minor injury but numerous signs were distroyed. Can’t imagine how worse it has become with cell phones.
AMEN sir. When I worked at DOT.they just got one of those big flashing road signs. Probably 10 x 10 It was not out two hours on the interstate and someone hit the sign.They said they did not see it. DAAAAAAAAAA. some people are just plain NUMB
If someone is driving under the influence, he is charged, fined, and loses his license because he is a POTENTIAL threat to others on the road.
Although all the facts of this incident have not yet been disclosed, it seems that Mr Tremblay SHOULD be charged, fined, and lose his license. He caused bodily harm to a construction worker, and his (apparent) recklessness should be judged very seriously under the law.
I agree a 100%
ACCIDENT
correction driver was arrogant
Oh ok so you must be the one investigating the accident??
No, apparently you are. You seem to know for a fact that this even was an ‘accident’. I clearly stated in my comment that we didn’t know all the facts yet.
What about all the alcoholics who get charged with drunk driving? ACCIDENTS have CONSEQUENCES.
Driver was certainly not paying attention on where the flagger was.
You should hear all sides and the whole story before you go accusing people of things!!!!
Thank you
You ever think there might be another reason for the accident!! Don’t judge untill the full results come back!! Prays to both families..
i dont understand why people here in this world,make excuses for what dumb a– people do every day.
I don’t understand why or how people on here can think that they can automatically know the reason for this accident when they wasn’t even there!
Same as you ,thinking hurting someone while driving and not paying attention is ok.
I have a very good friend who was hit while flagging and his life was ruined in 10 seconds or less.. At 45 years old he is physically and mentally damaged forever and it was totalIy preventable. I drove on interstate last week and was appalled at how many don’t slow down, drive so close to the bumper you can’t see their headlights in your rear view mirror, honk their horn because I was driving slower posted speed limit and don’t slow down if there is no one in front of them. If drivers do not smarten up not only are they an accident waiting to happen construction sites will be blocked causing lengthy detours or hours of waiting for one at a time to go by. Common sense goes a long way and idiots are usually not injured but cause many serious injuries or death to an honest man trying to make a living. Best wishes to a full and speedy recovery to Mr. Smith and peace to his family over another tragic accident that most likely was avoidable. I am sure after a full investigation that if Mr. Tremblay is at fault the fines, insurance rates inflating and the civil suit he is facing will cost him tremendously as it should. He can only hope Mr. Smith does not pass away and the jail time be a sentence for not just himself but his family trying to get by without his income and companionship. Please all slow down, be aware and the life you save might very well be mine or a loved one of another innocent family.
You are a sensible person.Not many left here on this planet.
Last week I had someone (a business I shouldn’t leave nameless) on I95 race me off the ramp to the construction ramp before the Skowhegan exist area and about put me off the road, I don’t have to and couldn’t move over as traffic was merging, I laid on my horn and he wouldn’t stop, I thought for sure a wreck was going to happen and I don’t think my knuckles ever got so white on that steering wheel. (I apologize to everyone in advance that had no involvement in this) but he ended up behind me at the last second almost smacking the last sign and I did 20 all the way across had my wife call to see if a trooper was around and of course after the zone I would say that truck in and out of lanes no directional must have been a good 85MPH he was doing. I wish the worker a speedy recovery, it’s too bad you are in so much danger as a construction worker doing the simple task of directing traffic (maybe not that simple)
You should post the name of the business and report them to the police.
In response to all the comments….our prayers are with the family of the injured man.. But before i jump to conclusions i am also going to pray for the driver of the truck and his family. There are other factors that could have caused this accident. Such as a medical conditon that may have caused the driver to loose control. I can only imagine how i would feel if i hit someone and I’m sure this driver and his family are torn up inside about this. Before bad mouthing someone we all may want to put ourselves in their shoes until we know the truth about what actuly happend…….once once again prayers to the injured and his family but also for the driver…….this accident affected all involved. And no one is perfect.
My husband worked with Alan Smith. Alan was actually giving my husband a break at the time. If it had been 5 minutes later or 15 minutes earlier it would have been my husband. We are in contact with Alan’s family and the other employees of the job site will be visiting him. Yes he is in critical condition and in intensive care and undergoing surgeries. I am thankful it was not Daniel and I am praying for Alan to have a good recovery. ALWAYS pay attention in work areas.
Sorry to hear hope all turns out ok..
Another tragic “accident” that most likely could have been prevented. EVERY driver on every roadway needs to pay attention to driving and not let anything distract them. Let the voice mail pick up the phone, lets the screaming kids duke it out, don’t eat, wear sunglasses and slow down around construction sites!
and quit your texting and staring over at what them construction people are doing, you will get to see it when they are done
I’ve seen plenty of flaggers texting and talking on their phones.
At least they are not driving…..
But they are supposed to be paying attention as well.
I rather see a flagger texting then a driver texting, I have run into far less problems with a flagger texting and actually paying attention better then a driver does on the road. If I had a choice as to which of the two I rather be around…I will take a texting flagger any day
Neither party should be texting.
Accident is the key word..
Bumping into a flagger is one thing, clipping him with two wheels and dragging him ten feet is waaay off the charts… Check that drivers blood content and phone records.
Y do you think they call them accidents????
Brother, an accident is when a person trips over a tree root and falls on his beak. Running over somebody with BOTH tires and dragging him 10′ is really, really stretching that definition. LOL Lets see the blood test results and phone records…
Brother true true BUT for one a 50++ year old man to be texting or talking while driving is slim to none.. And yes the rest will fall into place..
Fair points, Lance, gotta agree. Time will tell…
My prayers go out to the man that was hit and his famiy. From the comments i am sieng looks like people are way to quick to judge. We have no idea how this happend. How do we kmow that there wasn’t a meical condition that caused this driver to hit this man. my prayers also go out to the driver and his family .i can only imagine how awful they must feel. This could be anyone of us. By saying these awful things about the driver isnt helping anything. I think people should kerp thier negative comments to themselves until the truth is revealed. As if this driver doesnt feel bad enough. I know that i myself am not perfect and niether are any of you. My condolences go out to both victem and driver….this was an unfortunate accident. …so until the truth is revealed keep your negative comments to yourself.
Every one driving on Somerset County and Franklin County roads on a Friday,except me, has had 1,2,3,4, or more beers. Ok, practically every one.
I can just see your halo glowing from here. Self-righteous much?
An obvious intentional exaggeration, but if you’d like to test it, be our guest.
Since you say “our”, who are you representing, and how do you propose testing this?
O, its much worse than being ‘Self-righteous’. If i had my way i would ban pot and BOOZE,
I bet you would.
I use to,and for many,many years work one of the busiest Interstates in America flagging and doing traffic control and had to run into the ditch many times to be kept from being run over.I use to tell my family “This road may some day be my demise”.I was very diligent watching out for myself and co-workers.My prayers go out to this man and his family.Alan is one of the Brothers.
Remember that under the laws passed by the Republicans this year that the flagger will be declared “cured” in no more than ten years. Yup, won’t matter what condition he is in unless paraplegic he will be declared off workers comp. in order to give him incentive to find a job.
Good think he wasn’t a state employee, the trolls here would have been blaming it on his being a union member.
I wish him the best of luck, and it is time for a Connecticut law. 1 mile over the limit in a construction zone equals a $1000.00 fine for first offense.
This time of year at 2:20 PM, the sun can be low in the sky and I’ve had a hard time seeing while driving into the sun…….. Not saying this is what happened, but possible………….. Either way, no excuse for the driver hitting the flagger; definitly needs to be held accountable…………..
That is exactly why I wear sunglasses (while driving) all year round!
This is why all states need to have the “hit a worker, go to jail” law. Some states do. If you hit a construction worker, minimum is jail, $10K fine and loss of license for life. Drunk, sober, stoned or inattentive. There is no excuse, period.
Thats what all the United states should have for this kind of offence.
Texting and using the phone while driving.I see it every day.When will it become the crime that it is?
I would never want to be a flagger. You need eyes in the back of your head for that job!