SABATTUS – A New Brunswick man was charged with running a stop sign after his tractor-trailer drove through the busy intersection of Route 126 and 132 Friday morning in front of an oncoming Jeep.

Sabattus police Patrolman Ralph DeStefano, at the scene shortly after the 8 a.m. accident, said it appeared Ronald Cormier, 35, was heading south on 132 and drove through the busy intersection at 35 to 40 mph. Debra Cook, 53, of Litchfield, traveling east on 126 was unable to avoid the truck and struck its side, DeStefano said.

Cook and her two grandchildren were taken to Central Maine Medical Center. She was listed in satisfactory condition as of Friday evening. DeStefano said Cook and her granddaughter appeared shaken up but a grandson appeared to be uninjured.

“It just could have been so much worse,” DeStefano said. “They were, thankfully, perfectly strapped in child safety seats.”

After going through the intersection, Cormier’s brakes locked on his 18-wheeler, police said. The truck skidded then turned nearly upside down in a ditch. DeStefano estimated the truck leaked about 75 to 100 gallons of gas. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection was called to help the Sabattus Fire Department contain the spill. The Public Works crew came in on its day off to lay down sand, sweep it up, and lay down more more.

Cormier owned his truck and had just picked up a load of wood in Monmouth, DeStefano said. The truck was headed toward a popular shortcut to the Sabattus turnpike exit.

“(He) didn’t see the stop sign, is what he said. He was very, very cooperative,” DeStefano said.

Cook’s 2006 Jeep Liberty was totaled. Cormier’s International tractor-trailer had damages estimated at $10,000 or more.

State Police were also investigating the crash for possible charges. The trooper in charge could not be reached Friday afternoon.