BIDDEFORD, Maine — Two crashes two miles apart snarled the morning commute on Wednesday on the Maine Turnpike, according to state police.
The first crash occurred about 2:45 a.m. when a tractor-trailer rolled into the median at Mile 32 in Biddeford, according to a statement from state police.
An animal apparently ran out into the roadway and forced the truck to swerve to its left, leave the road and strike the median guardrail. The crashed forced the closure of the far left lane in both directions as crews cleaned up the area.
At about 7:30 a.m., a multi-vehicle crash involving another tractor-trailer occurred at Mile 34 in Saco, also in the southbound lane, according to state police.
That accident forced the center and right lane to be shut down for two hours.
A woman trapped in a car had to be extricated, and she was taken to Southern Maine Medical Center for treatment. Her name was not disclosed.
Police believe the second crash was caused by traffic congestion created by the earlier accident. Maine Turnpike Authority crews cleaned the lanes because of fluid leakage from the tractor-trailer. The Department of Environmental Protection also dealt with the incident.
