Distracted driving cause of four-car rear-ender in Rockport
The crashes occurred on Route 1 in Rockport, just before the intersection of routes 1 and 90, near Bhondell Sails and On the Water in Maine offices. (Photo courtesy Rockport Fire Department)
(Photo courtesy Rockport Fire Department)
(Photo courtesy Rockport Fire Department)
The crashes occurred on Route 1 in Rockport, just before the intersection of routes 1 and 90, near Bhondell Sails and On the Water in Maine offices. (Photo courtesy Rockport Fire Department)
(Photo courtesy Rockport Fire Department)
(Photo courtesy Rockport Fire Department)
ROCKPORT — Traffic at the intersection of routes 1 and 90 slowed Aug. 7, after one driver plowed into the back end of another car, sending a chain reaction up the line. Two people were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
The crash took place at approximately 10:20 a.m. when a woman heading south on Route 1 stopped as the traffic light ahead turned red and the cars in front of her began to halt. As her Chrysler sedan stopped, a Ford Focus sedan behind her stopped, as did a Chevy HHR behind her.
That’s when when a 2007 GMC Sierra half-ton pickup rear-ended the Chevy HHR, and pushed it forward into the Focus. The momentum then pushed the Focus into the back of the Chrysler.
“Two out of three vehicles were at least totaled,” said Rockport Police Officer Cooper Plaisted, who spent an hour at the scene and much of the afternoon investigating the details of the crash.
He said Aug. 8 that the crash has been attributed to distracted driving, as the driver of the Sierra pickup apparently was getting his glasses out when he rear-ended the Chevy. Plaisted said there are no charges pending.
The 2000 Chrysler, operated by Wanda St. Peters, of Portland, had stopped approximately 400 yards from the red light in the southbound lane. Cody D. Agnor, of Hope, had stopped his 2000 Ford Focus behind her. And behind him, Edward Berry, of Belfast, had come to a complete stop with his 2010 Chevy HHR.
William Hoginski, of Dover, N.H., was driving the Sierra.
According to Plaisted, when Hoginski came up over the hill he was taking his glasses out of their case to put them on. At that point, he rear-ended the Chevy, setting the chain reaction in motion.
The passenger of St. Peter’s car was transported by North East Mobile Health Services to Pen Bay Medical Center, in Rockport, with back pain.
Berry was also taken to the hospital with back and leg pain.
The air bags deployed in the Focus, Chevy and Sierra pickup.
The Rockport Fire Department also responded, helping with emergency assistance, traffic control and cleaning up debris from the highway.
Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657.
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