Early Morning Tractor-Trailer Crash Shuts Down Route 302 In Fryeburg

Photo Courtesy of Fryeburg Police

Fryeburg, ME – A section of Route 302 in Fryeburg was closed this morning after a tractor-trailer accident. According to Fryeburg Police at 1:55am an 18-wheeler struck a large tree that had fallen completely across the roadway due to recent storms. The 31-year-old driver was uninjured. The tree had punctured both fuel tanks and was leaking diesel fuel onto the ground.

Fryeburg Fire Department contained the fuel spill until Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) arrived to assist and Fryeburg Rescue was staged in the area as a safety precaution due to the leakage. Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) responded to remove the tree and tend to damaged guardrails.

Fryeburg Police Chief Joshua Potvin said “Fortunately nobody was injured in this crash. There are no street lights on this section of roadway making it nearly impossible to avoid collision with the downed tree. After confirming the driver had no injuries, our second concern was containing the diesel fuel leak that is in close proximity to Manchester Brook which leads to the Saco River. Fryeburg Fire Department and their mutual aid did an excellent job containing the fuel leak to avoid water contamination.”

The Chief added ““The Mashpee, Massachusetts based Forestry Product Company, Govoni Forestry Products was unloaded at the time of the crash and was enroute to Casco Maine to pick up a load of woodchips. Investigators had Route 302 closed for approximately 5 hours.”