ROCKLAND — The small groups that formed next to the Ferry Terminal on Friday morning speculated as to how a vehicle on its side at the bottom of a cliff-like hill would be removed. Would one or more of the sailboats at Knight Marine Services need to be relocated due to being an unexpected barricade on the opposite rim of the scene? Would a crane be needed?

In the end, Steve Laite, of Camden Exxon, surprised everyone by simply walking down the hill, attaching chains to the rear undercarriage and allowing the equipment on his wrecker to pull the vehicle upward and onto the flatbed, which was parked in the terminal parking lot close to Main Street.

Following the wayward ride down the embankment, hitting a sailboat on the way, the elderly couple in the vehicle had self extricated, and were walking and talking when the first police officer arrived on scene, at approximately 10:15 a.m., Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Rockland EMS transported the couple to the hospital due to bumps and bruises.  

Preliminary belief, based on some conversations between the couple and responders, is that the vehicle was moving along Main Street and perhaps the operator got confused, missed a turn to the ferry terminal, went over the sidewalk and grass and down the embankment. Police will follow up with the occupants after they'd been assessed at the hospital.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com