Editor’s note: Crews cleared the wreck by Thursday morning, earlier than initial estimates.
A tractor trailer driver was injured when his vehicle struck two empty cars of a train in Masardis on Wednesday afternoon.
The crash happened at the intersection of Blackwater Road and Route 11 at about 1:30 p.m., according to Paul Merrill, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Transportation.
“A tractor trailer on Route 11 hit the train about 15 cars in,” Merrill said. “It struck two empty rail cars and knocked them off the track, so it derailed.”
It’s the second derailment in a week for the area around Ashland. Last week a minor derailment occurred at the intersection of Route 11 and Sheridan Road. Wednesday’s crash is about 9 1/2 miles from that site.
DOT workers on site closed Route 11 and arranged a traffic detour.
James Tapley, 26, of Monticello was driving the truck, which was owned by Bartlett Forest Products of Amity, said Shannon Moss, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson.
“It appears the tractor-trailer which was hauling wood chips at the time was unable to stop when it hit the train, causing the train to derail,” Moss said.
Tapley was seriously injured and was taken to Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital in Presque Isle.
The dog that was with him was taken to a local veterinarian for care, Moss said.
The train driver was not injured. Route 11 will remain closed while investigators finish their work, which could take two or three days, Moss said.
On Wednesday afternoon, DOT personnel were awaiting the arrival of a crane to help lift the displaced cars back on the track, Merrill said.
The tractor trailer was destroyed, Maine DOT owns the track, Merrill said. The train was operated by Maine Northern Railway.
BDN writer Leela Stockley contributed to this report.
Correction: An earlier version of this report provided the incorrect first name for James Tapley based on information shared by police and the route number was corrected.