AUGUSTA — One person was hurt and both southbound lanes of Interstate 95 were closed Thursday after a Jeep Cherokee hit a Department of Transportation plow truck.
Andrew Mahaleris, 20, of Augusta, was trapped inside the Cherokee after the crash. He was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center with injuries described as not life-threatening, said Maine State Police Trooper Jesse Duda.
“It took about 40 minutes to cut him out,” Duda said.
None of the three passengers in Mahaleris’ Jeep, all in their early 20s, were injured.
Benjamin Loiko, 38, of Vassalboro, who was driving the plow truck, was not hurt.
Both southbound lanes of Interstate 95 were closed as crews tended to Mahaleris. Traffic was diverted onto Civic Center Drive.
The crash occurred around 11 a.m., as Loiko plowed the southbound lanes during a snowstorm.
Police said Loiko attempted to turn into a crossover to reverse direction. Because the crossover is narrowed by large snowbanks, making it impossible for the large plow trucks to turn into them at an angle, Loiko had to turn his truck into the breakdown lane on the right and drive across both travel lanes in order to drive straight into the crossover, police said.
Another plow truck driver told Loiko he was clear to make the turn, Duda said, but Mahaleris’ Jeep, which also was heading south, came up suddenly from behind.
“He was going too fast for the conditions,” Duda said.
Mahaleris swerved into the passing lane to avoid the plow truck behind Loiko and then tried to swerve back into the travel lane to avoid Loiko’s truck, but the driver’s side of the Jeep clipped the plow truck, Duda said.
The Jeep spun to a rest a short distance down the road.
The impact spun the plow truck, which was partially loaded with sand, into the crossover.
The Jeep was destroyed, Duda said. The plow truck sustained minor damage.
No charges were filed in connection with the crash.
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