Trucker questions career choice
By Kathy McCarty
PRESQUE ISLE — Too often accident coverage consists of the bare details — the who, what, when, where and why. But sometimes there’s more to the story than meets the eye. Such was the case of a recent incident.
A clarification of an error in a story about an accident on the Centerline Road July 7 involving a motorcycle, operated by David Belanger, and a tractor-trailer truck, operated by Denis R. Morin, 50, of Windsor, Vt., turned into an informative tale of a person being in the right place at the right time to make a difference.
Belanger, 45, of Fort Fairfield, had initially called the Star-Herald office to clarify that it was, in fact, he who was involved in the accident and not his 25-year-old son.
“Somehow the police report got mixed up — my son and I have the same name — they got his age instead of mine,” explained Belanger, who then began to shed light on the incident that could have been far more serious, had it not been for quick thinking on his part.
“I was riding my Harley heading down toward the tracks on the Centerline Road, heading toward Presque Isle. There was a tractor mowing to one side of the road and at the same time there was a southbound tractor-trailer truck. The trucker appeared to notice the person mowing and swerved but I guess he didn’t see me,” said Belanger.
Belanger said it was “either hit the ditch or a nearby corral.”
“I swerved and almost lost it. I passed the truck but not before he clipped my mirror,” Belanger said.
He said he turned around, trying to get the trucker’s attention, to no avail, witnessing the truck as it swerved in and out of its lane.
“I finally was able to pass him. I tried to get his attention but he wasn’t seeing me. I got ahead of him and braked but he didn’t slow down. I finally got a ways ahead, pulled over and got off my bike and started waving my arms. The truck driver began to slow, so I guess he must have noticed I was there,” Belanger said, noting the truck hadn’t come to a full stop when he raced to the door, opening it to get to the driver.
“I took him out of the truck and held him until police arrived. Another motorist, Sonja Watson, of Westfield, stopped and helped. She’d seen him driving erratically. It was a hot day and we stayed with him until help arrived,” said Belanger. “She was a witness. She was a sweetheart — stood out with me for nearly two hours in the heat, while emergency personnel questioned us — worked on the driver.”
Belanger, a trucker himself, said he knew something was wrong by the way the truck was “all over the road.”
“That wasn’t normal operation. I’ve been a trucker for six years — worked both local and long-haul. I knew it had to be something serious for the driver not to respond when I tried to get his attention. If he’d made it off the Centerline Road and onto Route 1, a lot of people could have been hurt,” said Belanger. “As it is, I was told he forced about 10 other vehicles off the road or nearly off the road before he clipped me.”
At the time of the accident, Belanger didn’t think he’d been injured but has since discovered that’s not the case.
“I guess it was the adrenaline. I had my knee replaced several years ago. Now it’s messed up again, same with my back. I was able to keep my bike upright — but barely,” he said. “I was more concerned about damaging my bike at the time if I dumped it than I was about my own well being. I’ve since been to my personal doctor and may need additional treatment.”
Belanger said he was told at the scene that Morin had suffered a possible stroke and it was a good thing he got to him when he did.
“I’ve heard he’s in a wheelchair now. He won’t be driving again. I’ve talked to his boss who was grateful for what I did,” Belanger said. “I’ve never been in a position to help someone like that before. I’m just glad I was able to.”
The accident has made Belanger question his own career choice.
“I’m seriously considering going back to my old profession. I used to be a cook and baker. I’m thinking trucking’s too dangerous. Too many drivers end up with health problems from sitting for long stretches — heart trouble, diabetes, etc. I don’t want that to happen to me,” he said.
