NEW VINEYARD – An SUV was totaled and its driver and passenger sent to the hospital in a midday crash with a logging truck on Route 27 in New Vineyard on Thursday.

Authorities have not yet determined exactly what happened since the two drivers’ stories differ, said Sgt. Steven Lowell of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

Police do know that Barry Walsh, 67, of New Vineyard was driving north in his 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee at 11:30 a.m. with his grandson Kevin Crandell, 20, also of New Vineyard, riding in the passenger’s seat, Lowell said.

On the road behind the Jeep was 20-year-old Jackman resident Drew Begin driving an empty logging truck owned by E.J. Carrier of Jackman.

Begin told police that the Jeep slowed and pulled toward the shoulder. He said that when he tried to pass the Jeep it came back across the lane and started to make a left-hand turn into a driveway, though it did not have a blinker light flashing.

The truck’s passenger side front bumper clipped the Jeep in the back bumper, sending the SUV spinning across the other lane 180 degrees before it landed in the driveway and faced out into the road, said Lowell.

But Lowell added that Walsh denies not using his blinker, which is giving police some uncertainly about what caused the accident, which left a dark trail of swerving skid marks.

Lowell explained that it’s not unusual for a tractor trailer carrying no load to leave marks when it stops abruptly because of the lack of weight on the tires.

A State Police trooper, Derrick Record, and several sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene just minutes after the accident happened, as did LifeStar Ambulance and the New Vineyard Fire Department.

The road was immediately closed down.

Both men riding in the Jeep complained of back and neck pain. They were taken each taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital, and Lowell says the injuries were not major.

Lowell listed the Jeep as totaled while the tractor trailer had $500 in damage.

The road was closed for around an hour, causing lines of traffic up to a half-mile long to back up on both sides of the accident.

Volunteers from the Fire Department swept debris off the road, which was reopened just before 1 p.m. to alternating one-way traffic.

The scene was cleared a short time later.

Helping Lowell at the scene were deputies Sandy Burke, Heidi Gould and Eddie Hastings, all of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

Jim Wright, a reconstructionist from the State Police, was called in but Lowell says speed does not appear to be a factor and no charges are expected to be filed.

Lowell agreed that those involved in the crash were lucky to have not sustained more serious injuries.
sdepoy@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link