A load of wood chips shifted and toppled the truck Richard Therrian was driving.
FARMINGTON – A Skowhegan man escaped injury after the tractor trailer he was driving rolled over and slid across snow on Route 133 Tuesday afternoon.
Richard Therrian, 52, was carrying a half load of wood chips and eating his lunch as he drove south uphill on Route 133, just after 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
When he leaned over to put his potato chips down, the truck’s passenger side wheels veered onto the shoulder, which was coated with thick wet snow, Farmington police Lt. Jack Peck said.
The tires got sucked through the snow and pulled the truck through the snow bank, Peck said. When Therrian tried to correct the direction, the load of wood chips shifted and caused the truck and trailer to roll onto its side and slide across the snow up the hill for several feet, Peck said.
The accident happened between Western Maine Surgical Care and Pine Tree Women’s Care.
Police and firefighters responded the scene, as did an ambulance, which was not needed.
Therrian, who drives for A.W. Chaffee in Oakland, reported no injuries. The truck is believed to have no damage.
“He was real lucky,” Peck said.
Traffic was controlled through the area and responders cleared the scene around 2:45, though the truck will not be moved until Wednesday at 7:30 a.m.
Peck said police tape has been wrapped around it for Tuesday evening so passing drivers know the scene has been taken care of. When the truck is being pulled out, an event that Peck says may take a few hours, traffic through the area may be slowed or the road may be closed. Signs will be posted if the road is closed and a detour route will be provided.
The lunchtime accident wasn’t the only one.
About 15 minutes before the rollover was reported, officer Chris Chase responded to an accident in front of the Fabric Inn on routes 2 and 4.
No one was injured.
Chase said a 1999 Mercury Mountaineer driven by Rachel Collins, 53, of Farmington was inching its way from the fabric store’s parking lot back onto the roadway and came out too far.
The SUV was struck by an Oldsmobile sedan driven by Suzanna Distefano, 57, of Farmington, which was traveling west on routes 2 and 4 and going around the speed limit, which is 40 miles per hour.
The sedan sent the SUV spinning, Chase said. “It looked pretty bad,” he said. Estimated damage was $4,000 to each vehicle, the officer said.
The vehicles were both towed away and the fire department cleaned up spilled antifreeze and engine oil. The scene was cleared within 20 minutes.
After dealing with only one accident during Monday’s snowstorm, Farmington officers had handled five by midday on Tuesday, Chase said.
Even though the calendar still says it’s fall, Chase reminded drivers that winter weather is here.
“Exercise more patience than usual and take a second look before heading out into traffic,” he advised.
Tall snowbanks and sunlight reflecting off the snow make it hard for drivers to see, he added.
sdepoy@sunjournal.com
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