A propane truck rolled over in the early Monday morning on North Belfast Avenue in Augusta, causing power to be shut off and schools to be closed.
North Belfast Avenue, also known as state Route 3, was completely shut down from Weeks Mills Road to Bolton Hill Road, which is approximately 1.3 miles. The road was cleared at around 9 a.m.
Augusta Police Sgt. Eric Lloyd said the truck was attempting to make a delivery between 1-2 a.m. Monday to a local Harley-Davidson shop. While en route, the propane truck was struck by a tractor-trailer, causing it to rollover. The Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle Unit and Environmental Protection Agency responded to the case, with the former taking it over, Lloyd said. There may have been a small propane leak, he said.
Classes at Cony Middle and High School and Capital Area Technical Center were canceled Monday due to Central Maine Power shutting off power following the crash. Police said the power was shut off as a precaution, because the accident involved a truck hauling propane.
The driver of the propane truck, Kevin Shute, 38, of Monroe, was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta by ambulance, with what police described as minor injuries. The truck is owned by Maine Energy.
The driver of the other truck, which is owned by Ryder Truck Rental, was Shawn Dunican, 59, of York, Pennsylvania, who was not injured.
Both trucks were towed from the scene.
Central Maine Power spokesperson Catharine Hartnett said power was shut off at 2:30 a.m. to approximately 2,200 customers. As of 8:20 a.m., 1,500 customers had their power back, she said. Power was restored to all customers in the area later Monday.
“We’re taking direction from the emergency personnel on scene,” Hartnett said.
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