ISLAND FALLS — Failure to negotiate a turn resulted in a tractor trailer going off the road and blocking the Interstate 95 detour route shortly after midnight Saturday.
According to Chief Deputy Sheriff Darrell Crandall of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department, deputies found a 2014 Freightliner and tanker trailer, belonging to Prime Inc., entirely blocking Route 159.
This exit is currently the start of a detour to avoid construction on I-95 north of Island Falls. Deputies said the driver of the truck, Garcia Cragey of Maryland, failed to negotiate the turn at the end of the off ramp, crashing through the guardrail on the north side of Route 159. Cragey was not injured.
Deputies report the guardrail kept the truck from continuing over the steep embankment. The tanker trailer was filled with vegetable oil destined for Easton and was not damaged. The tractor sustained significant front-end damage, including a ruptured diesel fuel tank. Maine DEP and DOT responded to assist Deputies at the scene. Deputies had all northbound traffic stopped for about an hour while the truck and trailer were removed from the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by Ryan Doughty, assisted by Vance Palmer.
