WEST PARIS — One person was dead after a trailer-truck hauling wood chips and a pickup truck crashed and burst into flames on Route 26 early Monday evening, Paris fire Chief Brad Frost said.

“The pickup was in flames when we arrived,” a somber Frost said after the accident that happened shortly after 5 p.m. near 122
Bethel Road near the Chowder House Restaurant. 

He said both trucks appeared to be headed north on a straightaway when the accident occurred near J & K Sporting Goods. A third vehicle was also involved, he said. He said it didn’t appear that there were any other serious injuries.

The highway was closed for hours as fire, rescue and police converged on the scene.

Jennifer Boutot of South Paris described the scene when she arrived about 30 to 40 minutes after the crash.

“There’s an 18-wheeler that’s sitting in the woods,” the 36-year-old said. “The pickup truck went through the 18-wheeler. All you can see is the bed. It was on fire.”

She said the rig was in the woods and the trailer near the highway, which was strewn with chips.

Maine State Police Sgt. Don Shead was heading up the investigation.