Maine State Police are investigating a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in Hermon Tuesday afternoon that sent a tractor-trailer and utility truck across the median and into oncoming traffic.
Despite the severity of the crash, no injuries were reported.
The crash happened at approximately 3:52 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, near Exit 180 after a pickup truck hauling a trailer attempted to merge onto northbound I-95 from Coldbrook Road, according to Maine State Police.
Investigators said the pickup failed to yield the right of way while merging onto the interstate, causing its trailer to strike a utility truck traveling in the northbound travel lane.
That collision set off a chain reaction.
The impact forced the utility truck into a tractor-trailer traveling in the northbound passing lane. The two vehicles became entangled, left the roadway and crossed the median before entering the southbound lanes of I-95.
As the vehicles crossed the median, the utility truck separated from the tractor-trailer. The utility truck’s driver was then able to steer the vehicle back into the median in an effort to avoid colliding with oncoming southbound traffic, police said.
The tractor-trailer’s trailer, however, struck two vehicles traveling southbound as the vehicles crossed the median and separated.
The Bangor Regional Communications Center initially received multiple 911 calls reporting that a tractor-trailer had gone off the northbound side of the highway, crossed the median and entered the southbound lanes, striking several vehicles.
Troopers arriving at the scene later determined that both the tractor-trailer and utility truck had crossed the median.
Remarkably, police said no injuries were reported among those involved.
Traffic was slowed in both directions while emergency crews responded and worked to remove the damaged vehicles. All vehicles involved have since been removed from the scene.
Maine State Police said the crash remains under investigation.
