AUBURN – An Oxford man was sent to the hospital and a section of Route 4 was closed for six hours after two rigs collided about 7 a.m. Monday.

Eugene Austin, 37, was trapped in his mangled dump truck for several minutes as rescue crews sought to free him, police said. He was later taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston where he was treated and released.

Investigators say Austin’s truck rear-ended a tractor-trailer driven by Donald Hill, 56, of Danville, Pa., after Hill had slowed for a school bus in front of East Waterman Road.

Police said Austin was not able to stop in time to avoid the collision once he realized the second rig was stopped in front of him.

All three vehicles were headed north on Route 4 when the crash occurred, police said. The school bus was not struck.

While rescue crews struggled to free Austin and police began to investigate, a long section of Route 4 remained closed, until roughly 1 p.m.

The wreck was being investigated by Auburn police Officer Barry Schmieks. He estimated damage to Austin’s 1998 Freightliner dump truck at $70,000; to the 2002 Mack Hill was driving, damage was estimated at $15,000.

mlaflamme@sunjournal.com