ROCKLAND (4/5/2023 at 3 p.m.) — Rockland police have not yet closed out their investigation following a crash at the Limerock and Union streets intersection April 5.

What is known is that a Silver GMC Terrain was being driven along Limerock Street toward Union Street. The driver faced a red blinking light, yet failed to yield to Union Street traffic, which had a blinking yellow light. As the SUV entered Union Street, it struck a vehicle that was going past.

The driver, Darren Labbe, was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle that was struck as well as another person were also taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries.

According to Interim Deputy Chief Alex Gaylor, the Police Department has spoken to the utility company that handles the traffic lights in hopes that the blinking will soon be fixed and reset to normal.

ROCKLAND — At 1:39 p.m., Rockland police, fire and EMS were alerted to a three-vehicle crash that came to rest on Limerock Street at its entrance to Union Street. One person was taken to the hospital by EMS.

As police heard driver and witness statements, a preliminary story developed of one operator allegedly driving through a blinking red light from the lower section of Limerock Street near the Post Office. A second vehicle allegedly was approaching along Union Street through the same intersection, toward Park Street, while another car was stopped inside the Limerock Street right-turn only lane, waiting to enter Union Street traffic. The first vehicle is believed to have struck the second vehicle, then making impact with the third, finally resulting in one vehicle coming to a stop on the courthouse lawn. 

One vehicle involved was still operable, and two Camden Exxon tow trucks hauled the others away. All responding personnel cleared the scene by 2:30 p.m.

According to Police Chief Tim Carroll, when faced with flashing blinking red and yellow lights, proper operation is for motorists facing yellow blinks to continue as usual, and for those with red blinks to stop and wait for a break in traffic.