Litchfield firefighters, employees of the Maine Turnpike Authority and wrecker crew stack bags of potatoes from a tractor trailer Wednesday at mile 94 on the Maine Turnpike in Litchfield. The operator of the rig was not injured in the rollover that straddled the north and southbound passing lanes. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal Buy this Photo
LITCHFIELD — A tractor-trailer hauling potatoes rolled over Wednesday morning on the highway, prompting the northbound and southbound passing lanes of the Maine Turnpike to be closed by authorities.
The rollover happened at about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, at mile 94 in the southbound lanes of Interstate 95.
The truck and debris blocked both the northbound and southbound passing lanes, leaving one lane of travel in both directions, according to Shannon Moss, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
Moss said, just before noon Wednesday, the two lanes — one in each direction — would remain closed for several hours as the truck needs to be removed and the potatoes, which are in 100-pound bags, need to be offloaded onto another truck.
The crash caused the truck to leak diesel fuel, and state Department of Environmental Protection workers were on the scene to clean up the spill.
Maine State Police investigate the rollover of a tractor trailer Wednesday at mile 94 on the Maine Turnpike in Litchfield. The operator of the rig was not injured in the rollover that straddled the north and southbound passing lanes. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal Buy this Photo
The driver, Gregory Malone Sr., 54, of Monticello, was not injured, according to Moss.
The truck was hauling 88,000 pounds of potatoes.
The single-vehicle accident took place when the driver swerved and the truck rolled over. The crash damaged 400 feet of guardrail.
A traffic alert from the Maine Turnpike Authority indicated the crash took place in the median, and warned that drivers should expect delays and use caution in the area.
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