February 7

Fairfield pickup collision injures two

By Matt Hongoltz-Hetling mhhetling@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media

FAIRFIELD — Two pickup trucks collided head-on in a 55 mph stretch of Skowhegan Road early this morning, sending the drivers of both vehicles to the hospital.

The road was closed for more than three hours while rescue workers used the Jaws of Life to extricate the drivers from their vehicles. Neither vehicle had passengers.

Daniel Dickey, 37, of Madison, was taken by ambulance to Redington-Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan after rescue workers took him from his Toyota Tacoma, according to Sgt. Paul St. Amand of the Fairfield Police Department. St. Amand said Dickey is in stable condition.

Justin Merry, 31, of Newmarket, N.H., was transported by helicopter to Bangor with serious leg injuries after he was removed from his Ford F-150 pickup, which was partially off the road, St. Amand said

State police were first notified of the crash by an automated reporting system in one of the two vehicles; moments later, a passerby stopped and called police, St. Amand said.

Officer Casey Dugas, first on the scene, found Merry pinned into his truck, which was partially off the road with a “substantially compromised” passenger compartment, according to St. Amand.

The crash happened at 5:15 a.m. just north of Kennebec Street. Officers didn’t open the road and clear the crash scene until 8:30 a.m., he said.

Waterville Fire-Rescue helped to pry the men out of their respective vehicles, because each town has only one Jaws of Life, St. Amand said.

St. Amand said the speed of the vehicles has not been determined, but police believe that Dickey, who was traveling south on the road, crossed over the center line.

Police are investigating the accident and have not yet determined whether they will bring criminal charges against either driver, he said.

The weather was clear and driving conditions were not a factor in the crash, he said.

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