York, ME : Truck overturns on car in 10-vehicle crash on Route 1 near the Spur Road Thursday afternoon, October 13, 2016

A 10-vehicle accident - precipitated when a dump truck filled with dirt tipped onto its side - occurred on Route 1 near the Spur Road Thursday afternoon, demolishing a number of cars and sending four people to the hospital.

Evening commuters were rerouted off of Route 1, and police still had the northbound lane closed at 9 p.m. Thursday night.

Police officer Brian Cantara said the accident occurred around 4 p.m. A dump truck traveling southbound on Route 1 swerved to avoid a vehicle in the intersection and turned over on its side. It struck cars and a motorcycle in the northbound lane waiting at the light, causing a chain-reaction crash.

Police Chief Douglas Bracy said the accident “is probably one of the largest accidents we’ve seen” in York.

Responding were firefighters from York, York Beach, Kittery and Ogunquit, ambulances from York and Wells and York and Maine State Police, as well as Maine wardens, and workers from Maine Department of Transportation and Maine Turnpike Authority.

While Cantara said four people were taken to York Hospital, Bracy said all those in vehicles were conscious and alert when removed. Another 10 people told paramedics they did not want hospital care, police said. No life-threatening injuries were reported.

From what was visible at the scene, it was clear that the truck ended up in the northbound lane on its side, pinning the front end of a red vehicle underneath it. A black car which had crashed into the red car was also significantly damaged. Several cars in the left turn lane on the northbound side were also badly damaged. A motorcycle could be seen on its side near the curb in front of the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce.

The following drivers were involved in the crash, police said: Beth McKenna, 61; Jeffery Munafo, 49; Jane Lowny, 79; Dorothy Dewitt, 68; James Pratt, 50; David Loane, 62; Katelyn Zambroski, 35; and Charles Savage, 72.

On Thursday night, police did not identify the driver of the truck. Municipal addresses were also not available. Police said the investigation is continuing.

Wrapped in a blanket and standing on the grass in front of chamber building Thursday evening, Beth McKenna, a teacher at Coastal Ridge Elementary School, described what happened. Her car, a Subaru station wagon, was the first in line at the light, awaiting a left turn to head onto the Spur Road.

McKenna said she saw a dump truck swerve to avoid a silver car. It was already tipping over as it hit her car before continuing on into the northbound lanes.

“The dirt was pouring out of it as it tipped. My car is filled with dirt,” she said. “It all happened so fast.”

She was among a number of stunned motorists as well as emergency responders who were treated to an impromptu coffee stand set up by Stonewall Kitchen, under a tent to keep people dry from the rain.

Bracy said the state police are reconstructing the accident because a commercial vehicle was involved. York police would be conducting its own reconstruction, he said.

Source :
Truck overturns on car in 10-vehicle York crash