Littleton man succumbs following three-car crash

  HOULTON, Maine — A 75-year-old Littleton man died as a result of injuries he received in a three-car collision on the North Road in Houlton Wednesday afternoon.
   James Westerdahl was taken by helicopter to Eastern Maine Medial Center where he had surgery Thursday morning for his injuries. He died Friday morning.
Lt. Daniel Pelletier of the Houlton Police Department said Friday that a more detailed investigation of the accident would take place. State police will reconstruct the accident and more detailed examination of Westerdahl’s vehicle will take place.
According to investigating officer Jared Sylvia of the Houlton Police Department, Westerdahl was traveling south in a 1999 GMC extended cab pick-up truck when his vehicle crossed the center line into the path of a 2000 tractor trailer driven by James Sprague, 57, of Nobleboro. Sprague swerved in an effort to avoid Westerdahl, partially going off the road.
According to Sylvia, witnesses to the crash stated they saw the driver’s side front tire of Westerdahl’s truck blow out, causing him to lose control of the vehicle. Westerdahl’s truck struck the trailer portion of Sprague’s vehicle, going under the trailer, which caused the wheels of the trailer to go up and over Westerdahl’s front end. Sprague’s trailer was empty at the time of the collision.
A third vehicle, a 2001 Dodge pickup operated by Melissa Radatz, 35, of Houlton, was traveling behind Sprague and was struck by debris from the collision. Radatz, who is pregnant, swerved off the road to avoid striking either vehicle.  She was treated at Houlton Regional Hospital for minor injuries and later released.
Traffic was backed up on the North Road for miles in both directions while emergency responders were at the scene. Westerdahl needed to be extracted from his vehicle.
Westerdahl’s vehicle was demolished, while Sprague’s trailer received major damage and Radatz’s vehicle sustained minor damage. Cost estimates were not available.
Both Sprague and Radatz were wearing seatbelts, but Westerdahl was not.
Assisting Sylvia were Lt. Daniel Pelletier and patrolman Erica Pelletier of the Houlton Police Department, along with officers of the Maine State Police, Houlton Fire Department and Houlton Ambulance Service.
There were no passengers in any of the three vehicles. No charges are pending in the accident.