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Snow Causes Accident Filled Monday Commute


3

Plymouth - A quick burst of snow during the Monday morning commute caused a number of accidents on I-95.

One of the drivers involved in a crash says he was very lucky.

"I was upside down and I couldn't believe I didn't get hurt," said James Poirier of Augusta.

Many of the accidents along I-95 were considered minor. The quick change in the weather seemingly caught drivers off guard.

"We had a good day yesterday and it just wasn't expected," said Maine State Police Trooper Paul White. "We had a light snowfall this morning that glazed over and people just not accommodating their speed and braking distance."

The driver of a truck off the passing lane of I-95 near mile marker 162 was taken to Sebasticook Valley Hospital with a cut on the head and sore ribs. The truck went down a bank and struck a tree in Plymouth, one of many accidents on both sides of the interstate.

"Approximately 20 miles both sides, both Northbound and Southbound lanes we had at least two to three accidents both sides from Newport on up through Bangor," said Trooper White.

About a mile away from that accident is where Poirier rolled his vehicle on his way to work. "About six o'clock this happened. and then all of a sudden the roads became slippery on, it felt like I was on ice."

Poirier had just passed another vehicle when he fe lt the change over to ice under his tires. "I was doing probably 50 and I already got by him and I started to fish tail, and went sideways a little bit then all the way around, and then off I went, and right when I hit the shoulder, I rolled."

The quick change in the conditions should be a reminder for all drivers this time of year according to Trooper White. "Use caution in bad weather, slow their speeds down and put more distance between each other for braking distance."

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