Drivers challenged by first snow
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
The first real dusting of snow for the season resulted in several accidents Tuesday morning, as motorists from Castle Hill to Presque Isle lost control on slippery roads.
Wet conditions Monday and colder overnight temperatures created a thin layer of ice on highways in some areas. The light powdering of snow added to that Tuesday morning made for poor driving conditions for drivers.
Washburn Police Chief Doug Conroy responded to route 164 between Washburn and Crouseville around 8 a.m. for a motorist who’d slid off the road. No injuries were reported and the vehicle did not sustain any significant damage.
Main Street in Mapleton was the site of an accident around 8:30 a.m. when a car struck a utility pole, breaking it and downing wires.
A crew from the Mapleton Fire Department responded and requested Maine Public Service to assist. The female driver complained of neck pain and Crown Ambulance was dispatched to the scene. A crew was also requested from FairPoint, since some of the downed wires appeared to be for telephone service. Traffic was shut down for nearly an hour as crews worked to clear the road. The vehicle received considerable damage. Slippery road conditions were blamed for the crash. Maine State Police were contacted to investigate.
SNOW CAUSES ACCIDENT 
— The first dusting of snow for the season resulted in multiple accidents Nov. 6, including this one at the intersection of the Centerline Road and Route 10. Presque Isle Deputy Fire Chief Adam Rider talks on the radio, while Officer Kevin Schumacher speaks with Sgt. Mark Barnes at the scene. No one was seriously injured in the crash but the Dodge truck sustained extensive right-side damage when it struck a utility pole.
Around 8:40 a.m., a crew from the Presque Isle Fire Department were notified of a pick-up truck striking a utility pole at the intersection of Route 10 and the Centerline Road. Sgt. Mark Barnes and Officer Kevin Schumacher, of the Presque Isle Police Department, also responded. Maine State Police assisted with traffic control. An MPS crew responded to address utility lines pulled from a nearby house. Crown Ambulance staff also responded. No serious injury was reported but the Dodge truck sustained extensive damage to the passenger side of the vehicle. The snow-covered roadway was blamed for the crash.
Mapleton first responders had their second call of the morning around 8:50 a.m. on the Castle Hill Road. A Crown crew responded to assist three occupants in the vehicle — two reported neck pain, with the third complaining of back pain. The road was shut briefly and DOT notified to sand the area. Officials indicated the road was extremely slippery at the time of the accident.
Police remind motorists to use caution this time of year. Adjust driving speeds for road conditions and allow ample time to reach your destination.
