On January 17, 2024, at approximately 9:05 a.m., the Maine State Police received multiple reports of a crash on Interstate 295 in Yarmouth involving a commercial motor vehicle and a passenger vehicle. Initial reports indicated the truck had disconnected from its trailer and landed on top of the passenger vehicle. The crash shut down northbound traffic on Interstate 295 near Exit 17 for approximately 15 hours.

When Troopers arrived on scene they discovered a truck, operated by Xpress Natural Gas LLC  of Andover, Mass., had crashed into a line of concrete jersey barriers that had been set up along the detour route of the mile 17 bridge replacement project. The truck rolled onto its side, into more concrete barriers, then landed on top of a passenger vehicle.

The crash investigation concluded that Jerry Freeman of Lakeport, New Hampshir,e was traveling northbound, approaching the construction zone and drifting off the side of the highway multiple times. Freeman drifted out of his lane as the travel lanes shifted in the construction zone and crashed. Upon conclusion of the investigation, Freeman was issued a citation for failing to maintain his lane, according to a news release from the Maine Dept. of Public Safety.

This crash scene was complex and highly sensitive due to the nature of the product hauled in the trailer, the release said.

The trailer, loaded with UN1971 (natural gas, compressed), was being transported in 51 individual cylinders inside the trailer manifolded together as one unit.

This type of trailer is authorized to be transported under a complex special permit issued to the manufacturer of the unit by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA).

“Not visible when looking at the trailer, there are various pipes and valves on the sides and the top of the trailer that if ruptured would cause a catastrophic release of the hazardous material,” the release said. “Because of these circumstances, a deliberate and thought-out plan needed to be crafted by multiple parties to identify the best way to safely clear the scene.”

The Dept. of Public Safety said: “Xpress Natural Gas fully cooperated with and assisted in the investigation and cleanup. They sent managers, mechanics, three empty trailers, and an engineer to the scene to assist. Mid-Coast Towing of Durham, CPM Constructors, Shaw Brothers Construction, and the Yarmouth Fire Department also dispatched crews to assist.”

The overturned trailer was offloaded to the extent possible by Xpress Natural Gas, a process that proved slow and arduous. Upon completion of the offloading Mid-Coast Towing attempted to upright the trailer but due to its weight and awkward configuration they were not able to initially do so. Xpress Natural Gas requested the assistance of National Wrecker Service of Eliot, ME whom they have a company contract to respond.

National Wrecker Service responded with additional resources and knowledge of the trailer and its construction and ultimately everyone on scene crafted a safe plan to disconnect the Intermodal container containing the 51 cylinders from the trailer chassis. Once this was done, the container was loaded onto a trailer, and the State Police escorted the load from the crash scene to Xpress Natural Gas’ Eliot location where it could safely be dealt with.

“The Maine State Police would like to thank it’s agency partners and other multiple parties that collaborated and assisted on scene, the media for helping to disseminate real time information and the public for their patience,” the release said.

Troop K, MSP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU) consists of a skilled group of Troopers and Inspectors that are highly trained at the federal level in driver qualifications and mechanical operation of commercial motor vehicles involved in both intrastate and interstate commerce.

Additional expert training certifications are held for inspections of commercial vehicles transporting hazardous materials and tank vehicles which authorize the inspection and verification the motor carrier is properly operating in state and federal law, both of which came into play in this crash.