Crash claims life of local girl
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A local girl is dead following a two-vehicle crash June 20 on Route 1.
“On June 20, at approximately 11:52 a.m., the Presque Isle Police Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting a multi-vehicle crash on the Caribou Road at the intersection with the Craig Road. Calls were also received by the Caribou police and fire departments,” said Sgt. Mark Barnes, PIPD.
A TWO-VEHICLE CRASH on the Caribou Road north of Presque Isle resulted in one fatality, when a four-year-old child died of injuries sustained June 20. 
Traffic was re-routed for nearly three hours as officials investigated the accident, involving a 2003 Pontiac van driven by Sarah Berube of Presque Isle and a 2002 Chevrolet pickup operated by Arthur Cullins of Caribou. Cullins rear-ended the van when he failed to see the vehicle stopped as the driver waited to make a left turn onto the Craig Road.
According to Barnes, a 2003 Pontiac Montana van operated by Sarah Berube, 26, of Presque Isle, was stopped in the southbound lane waiting to make a left turn onto the Craig Road when the van was struck from behind.
“A 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche being operated by Arthur Cullins, 73, of Caribou, was traveling south and didn’t see that the van had stopped to make a turn. Mr. Cullins struck the van and both vehicles came to rest in the northbound lane and shoulder of the road, forcing other northbound vehicles off the road to avoid a collision,” said Barnes.
Caribou Ambulance transported a 4-year-old girl to The Aroostook Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. She later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Police are not releasing her name.
Berube was transported to TAMC with unspecified injuries. She has since been released from the hospital.
Cullins was also transported to TAMC with minor injuries but no word was available on his condition.
Jeffrey Ouellette, 31, of Presque Isle, was a passenger in Berube’s vehicle and sustained minor injuries. He was treated at TAMC and released.
“The accident remains under investigation by Officers Cole Chandler, Chris Hayes and Peter Johnson, all of the PIPD,” said Barnes. No charges have been brought at this time.
Also assisting at the scene were the Presque Isle Fire Department, Crown Ambulance, Maine Warden Service and MDOT. Route 1 was closed for just under three hours, with traffic re-route to the Craig and Reach roads, while officials investigated the accident.
