By Kerri Pepoy,Staff Writer

LOVELL – A man from North Conway, N.H., was in critical condition Monday at Maine Medical Center in Portland after the propane tanker truck he was driving struck a guardrail and utility pole on Route 5.

Michael Fougere, 46, was taken by helicopter to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston and stabilized and then transported to Maine Medical Center, said Trooper Adam Fillebrown of the Maine State Police.

The accident occurred about 9:30 a.m. Monday. Fillebrown said Fougere was driving a propane delivery truck and apparently lost control of the vehicle while traveling south on Route 5 in Lovell. The accident occurred at Route 5 and Slab City Road.

The truck went off the road then came back on the road, crossed over into the northbound lane, and struck a guardrail, Fillebrown said. The truck then rolled over the guardrail and down an embankment, striking a utility pole along the way.

“He caught a telephone pole and snapped that,” said Fillebrown. “Part of the pole came down on the cab of the truck.”

Fougere was ejected from the truck and the vehicle landed on the passenger side. Fillebrown said Fougere’s injuries appeared to be “neck issues and trauma.” Fougere was conscious at the scene.

No one else was injured. Route 5 was closed to traffic for approximately seven hours while the scene was cleared. Utility workers from Central Maine Power Co. were at the scene to repair the utility pole and fallen wires.

Emergency workers drained propane from the truck before it was removed from the area. Fillebrown said some areas of Lovell were apparently without power for several hours while the utility lines were shut off.

The accident is under investigation. Fillebrown said speed was not a factor.

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