RUMFORD - A Paris man escaped serious injury Wednesday morning after the tractor-trailer he was driving rolled off Route 2, dumping its load of wood chips, police said.

Kevin Berriault, 51, who had to be extricated from the truck cab, was examined by a Med-Care Ambulance medic but refused transportation to Rumford Hospital, police and Med-Care Director Dean Milligan said.

Berriault was driving a 2007 Volvo rig owned by Ryder Truck Rental of Herman and rented by Berriault's employer, Midwest Price of Paris, investigating Officer Lawrence Winson said. It sustained an estimated $30,000 in damage.

The accident happened at about 6:20 a.m.

Berriault was driving east to deliver the chips to the NewPage mill when a fit of sneezing apparently struck him right before the truck encountered a high crown at the start of a curve, Winson said.

"He says he sneezed a couple of times and hit the crown, which caused his load to shift," he said.

The rig tipped onto one set of wheels then flipped over, causing the truck cab and trailer to slide several feet along the emergency lane before rolling off the road, Winson said.

Berriault was pinned to his seat by his safety belt and had to be held up and cut free by Winson and Rumford firefighters.

Speed wasn't a factor, the officer said, because the rig's engine is set so it can't go faster than 57 mph.

The accident limited traffic to one lane for about 45 minutes. Route 2 was shut down for about 15 minutes. That allowed a Rumford highway department crew to use a backhoe to remove chips from the trailer, which enabled an M/T Pockets tow truck from Dixfield to right and remove the rig.

Rumford Patrolman Tracey Higley also assisted.

No charges were filed against Berriault.