Camden man dies after rock falls through windshield in Hope crash, police search for truck driver
Hope firefighter Isaiah Backiel directs traffic at the Route 17 and Harts Mill Road in South Hope this afternoon, while emergency crews tend to a crash that closed a portion of the state highway. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Hope firefighter Isaiah Backiel directs traffic at the Route 17 and Harts Mill Road in South Hope this afternoon, while emergency crews tend to a crash that closed a portion of the state highway. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
HOPE — A rock falling from a vehicle killed a Camden man, while he was driving his car today on Route 17 in Hope, and police are now looking for the driver of that vehicle.
Just before 3 p.m., the Knox County Sheriff's Office responded to a single vehicle crash on Route 17 on the Hope side of the Hope and Union town line. It was reported that a large rock had fallen off a vehicle and gone through the windshield, striking the car’s operator, identified early Tuesday evening as James Nash, 73, of Camden. Nash was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was traveling with his wife, Marilyn, also identified Tuesday evening, who was taken to Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport with minor injuries and was in shock, according to a news release from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
Names were withheld earlier in the day until proper notification had been made to family members.
The Sheriff's Office is asking for assistance to locate the other vehicle, whose driver Chief Deputy Tim Carroll said is probably unaware of the occurrence that happened. The vehicle description is unknown at this time, but it would have been hauling rocks of 6-8 inches diameter in size, he said in the release.
Until more information is gathered through investigation, the Sheriff’s Office is unsure of other details at this time, including the direction of travel of the other vehicle. Anyone having any information is asked to contact the Knox County Regional Communications Center at 207-593-9132. Provide a name and contact information and a deputy will return your call.
Route 17 traffic was being rerouted along nearby roads while police, firefighters and emergency rescue crews tended to the injured.
The crash occurred at approximately 3 p.m. near the Hope and Union town line. Route 17 was closed along a stretch between the Wottons Mill and Harts Mill roads intersections.
Hope and Union firefighters directed traffic onto alternate routes at the intersection of Route 17 in South Hope onto the Harts Mill Road, the Quiggle Road, Mount Pleasant Road and the Wotton Mill Road back to Route 17.
Rockport Fire Department responded with its extrication equipment.
Event Date
Address
hope, ME
United States
