State troopers busy with accidents

Tractor trailer strikes horse, topples cargo
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    SMYRNA — A horse standing in the road of Route 2 caused a two-vehicle accident in the early morning hours Monday.
    Maine State Police Trooper Carman Lilley responded to the accident at about 3:20 a.m. where he discovered a 2004 Peterbilt tractor carrying a loaded log trailer had struck a horse standing in the roadway. David Tarr, 29, of Oakfield, was the driver of the tractor.
    The horse, which was owned by Earnest Kaufmann of Smyrna, had gotten out of its pasture and wandered into the roadway, according to Maine State Police Sgt. Brian Harris.
    “Tarr tried to avoid the horse by swerving around it, but the trailer struck the horse and Tarr lost control, rolling off the road onto it side, spilling the load of logs into the roadway and damaging the guardrail,” Harris said.
    Tarr sustained cuts to his face in the accident that did not require treatment at the scene, Harris said. The truck and trailer were deemed a total loss.
    Moments after Tarr struck the horse, a second vehicle, a 1998 Nissan sedan operated by Wayne McGary, age 62 of Houlton, came upon the accident scene and could not stop for the logs that were strewn in the roadway. McGary attempted to avoid the logs and skidded off the road into the woods, demolishing his car. McGary sustained an injury to his back but did not require medical treatment at the scene.
    The area of Route 2 was closed down for several hours while crews cleaned up the roadway and a diesel spill and used equipment to remove the logs and remove the wreckages. Both operators were wearing seatbelts. The horse died at the scene as a result of its injuries in the accident.
Youth breaks leg in dirt bike crash
    ISLAND FALLS — A 17-year-old Island Falls boy suffered a broken leg Aug. 30 while riding a dirt bike on the Old Patten Road.
    According to Maine State Police Sgt. Brian Harris, Scott Conley was operating a 1982 Honda dirt bike when he failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of Old Patten Road and U.S. Route 159. Conley traveled through the intersection, onto Route 159, striking a 2008 GMC operated by Heidi Bishop, 45, of Island Falls.
    Conley was thrown from his dirt bike, breaking his leg in the process. Island Falls Ambulance transported him to Houlton Regional Hospital. Bishop was not injured in the crash. Conley was wearing a helmet and Bishop was wearing her seatbelt.
    Detective Josh Haines investigated the incident.