An accident report filed by the Maine State Police finds that Maureen Simmons of Naples is primarily responsible for the automobile crash on Route 302 last month involving local state trooper Michael Smith of Casco.
At 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, Simmons was attempting to turn into Naples Family Practice on Route 302 when Smith’s cruiser crashed nearly head-on into her Ford Expedition.
The crash spun both vehicles, smashing the front and left end of the Ford Explorer and the police cruiser.
Rescue workers used the Jaws of Life to open the cab of Smith’s cruiser and remove the trooper, who suffered multiple injuries and broken bones. Smith was airlifted by helicopter to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston where he remained in recovery for about a week.
Simmons was taken to Bridgton Hospital where she was treated and later released.
At the time of the crash, Smith, a K-9 expert who joined the Maine State Police in 1998, was traveling on routine patrol down Route 302 eastbound with his police dog, Jetta. Jetta suffered minor bumps and bruises from the crash and was treated by a local veterinarian.
While Simmons contends that Smith was driving “too fast,” the State Police report finds “no improper action” on the part of Smith while traveling the 40-mph stretch of Route 302.
Instead, the apparent cause of the accident cited is Simmons’ “failure to yield the right of way” and making an “improper turn.”
Accident reconstruction determined that Smith was traveling between 42 to 50 mph. Simmons, as she made the turn, was traveling between 10 to 13 mph, according to police.
Simmons is not surprised by the State Police’s findings, but is upset that the State Police take no responsibility in the crash.
She felt that, even at the scene of the crash, State Police were already blaming her for the accident because of Smith’s position as a law enforcement officer.
“Before doing any investigation whatsoever, they were accusing me,” Simmons said.
While she understands that it is State Police policy to investigate crashes involving their own officers, she believes that the policy should change.
Lt. Kevin Conger, commander of State Police Troop A in Gray, says that it is not the State Police who assigns blame for the crash; they just assessed the apparent causes. The law does side with the driver who has the right of way and, in this case, the police resolved that Simmons attempted to make the left turn without “adequate time.”
To Conger’s knowledge, no state trooper made the assumption Simmons was to blame at the crash scene.
“We wouldn’t make judgment before having all the facts,” he said.
Trooper Smith is still “on the mend.” However, it is uncertain “if or when” he will return to duty. Conger could not elaborate on the severity of his injuries, only to say that he is at home recovering on paid leave.
“We are basically playing it by ear based on what his doctors are finding,” Conger said. “We’re looking forward to having Smith recover, get back to his life and back to work at the department.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
