WASHINGTON, Maine — An 18-wheel flatbed truck loaded with snowplows crashed shortly after noon Monday off Route 17.
Scott Ware, 43, of Gardiner, who works for PEP Transportation and was driving the 2010 Peterbilt truck belonging to the company, was initially taken to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport. He then was flown by a LifeFlight helicopter to a Lewiston hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to Knox County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tim Carroll.
The flatbed was carrying new Fisher snowplows and related snow removal equipment. The truck was heading west on Route 17 when the crash occurred. The plows are manufactured at a plant in Rockland.
Carroll said for an unknown reason at this time, the driver missed a curve near the intersection with Fitch Road and continued on, crossing the eastbound lane into a field. The truck travelled another 300 feet and ended up rolling over onto its roof, he said.
A passer-by stopped and extinguished a fire in the engine compartment and waited for first responders to help remove the driver.
Assisting at the crash were members of the Washington, Union and Somerville fire departments and the Union Ambulance Service.
Route 17 was still restricted to one lane at 3:30 p.m. with traffic only being allowed eastbound while crews worked to clean up the crash.