HOPE, Maine — One person was flown by a LifeFlight helicopter following a crash in which a cement truck struck a utility truck nearly head-on Thursday afternoon on Route 17.
At about 12:20 p.m., a 2008 Mazda four-door driven by Dakota Maddocks, 19, of Appleton was headed east when she suddenly had to stop for a car in front of her turning onto Alford Lake Road, according to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
Bruce Pease, 33, of Appleton, who was driving a 2004 Volvo cement truck in the same direction behind Maddocks was unable to stop in time and veered left, striking the left rear of the Mazda, continuing into the opposing lane, according to the sheriff’s office. The cement truck then struck an oncoming 2014 Chevrolet 3500 utility truck driven by Ryan Gauthier, 36, of Albion.
Both the cement truck, owned by Ferriaolo Construction of Rockland, and the utility truck, owned by O&P Glass of Manchester, went off the road and hit trees.
Maddocks and her passenger, a 7-month-old child, in the Mazda were not injured.
The driver of the cement truck was not taken to the hospital by ambulance, but said he was going to get checked due to complaint of pain in his arm and shoulder, according to police. A passenger in the utility truck, whose name was not immediately available, complained of pain and was taken to the hospital.
The driver of the utility truck, who was pinned, had to be extricated, according to police. He was taken to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport by Union Ambulance and later flown by a LifeFlight helicopter to an unspecified hospital for possible broken bones and injuries not considered life threatening, according to the sheriff’s office.
Route 17 remained blocked at 3:30 p.m. as state police investigated and crews worked to tow the vehicles and clear the scene.
Members of the Sterling Ambulance, and Hope and Rockland fire departments assisted at the scene.