ROCKPORT, Maine — Two car crashes within a half hour tied up Route 1 traffic for much of Tuesday afternoon.
One of the crashes involved an ambulance. There were no injuries, but the second crash reduced Route 1 to one lane for more than three hours as utility crews worked to replace a pole that was struck.
The first crash occurred shortly before 1:30 p.m. near Downeast Magazine. A Northeast Mobile Health Services ambulance driven by Dennis Simmons, 51, of Camden, was heading north and attempted to make a left turn. A 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Bob Harrelson, 77, of Camden was traveling behind the ambulance and struck it from behind when the ambulance was attempting to turn, according to the accident report filed by Rockport police Sgt. Travis Ford.
Simmons said he had used his turn signal but Harrelson and a witness reported they did not see a turn signal from the ambulance and that it made the left turn quickly, according to the police report.
No one was ticketed, according to Rockport Police Administrative Assistant Craig Cooley.
There were no patients in the ambulance. Damage to the ambulance was minor. The car being driven by Harrelson, which was a loaner car from Shepard Chrysler Dodge in Thomaston, had to be towed.
About a half hour later, about a mile north on Route 1, a minivan struck a utility pole. Details on that crash were not available Wednesday morning but no injuries were reported.