PHILLIPS — A Dixfield man died from his injuries Saturday after his pickup was involved in a morning collision with a tractor-trailer, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
The collision occurred about 7 a.m. at the intersection of Rangeley Road and Weld Road in Phillips, and it trapped driver Loren Keim, 21, in the pickup, police said in a news release.
Keim, of Dixfield, was driving a 1997 Ford Ranger toward Phillips on Weld Road. Keim failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection with Rangeley Road and struck the trailer portion of the tractor-trailer, which was moving north on Rangeley Road, also called Route 4, police said. The pickup struck the axles on the trailer, causing catastrophic damage to Keim’s vehicle.
Keim was taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewistion by LifeFlight helicopter and later died from his injuries, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Matthew Brann said.
Keim was the son of Sen. Lisa Keim, R-Dixfield.
The tractor-trailer was driven by Richard Giles, 61, of Jay. Brann said Giles was not hurt in the accident.
According to the sheriff’s office news release, Giles said he was driving in the passing lane because the right lane had not been treated for snow. The truck is owned by Darrell Tibbetts of Livermore. It was hauling a Poland Springs water tanker, which was empty when the accident occurred. The truck is a 2011 Peterbilt.
At the time of the collision, Phillips was getting snow flurries and the road was covered with some snow, making the road slippery. The road conditions apparently contributed to the wreck, police said.
Keim initially was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital, but then was flown to Central Maine Medical Center.
The Phillips Fire Department, the Farmington Fire Department and Northstar Ambulance were all at the scene.
Keim’s vehicle was removed by Collins Enterprises. The tractor portion of the truck sustained no damage and was able to leave the scene under its own power.
The trailer was towed by Big Rig Trucking of Oxford.
Senate President Michael Thibodeau, R-Winterport, said late Saturday on Facebook: “It is often said that those who serve and work for the Maine Legislature are a part of a large, extended family, and that family now shares the grief of Lisa, her husband, Blue, and their entire family.”
Senate Minority Leader Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, also expressed condolences Saturday.
“The Senate is a family, and when one of us is suffering, we all suffer,” Jackson said in a statement.
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