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Truck-tipping signs to be added to dangerous Cambridge intersection after crash

The driver of a tractor-trailer loaded with pulp wood lost control of his vehicle on this curve in Cambridge in August 2011, sending both the truck and the logs into the Cambridge General Store.
Diana Bowley | BDN
The driver of a tractor-trailer loaded with pulp wood lost control of his vehicle on this curve in Cambridge in August 2011, sending both the truck and the logs into the Cambridge General Store.
By Alex Barber, BDN Staff
Posted Dec. 11, 2011, at 12:26 p.m.
Last modified Dec. 12, 2011, at 8:01 a.m.
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Workers remove logs that spilled in August 2011 when the driver of a tractor-trailer truck lost control of his vehicle while rounding a curve in Cambridge. The truck rolled onto its side and slid into the Cambridge General Store.
Diana Bowley | BDN
Workers remove logs that spilled in August 2011 when the driver of a tractor-trailer truck lost control of his vehicle while rounding a curve in Cambridge. The truck rolled onto its side and slid into the Cambridge General Store.

CAMBRIDGE, Maine — In response to a tractor-trailer tipping over and crashing into a store near a dangerous curve in August, the Maine Department of Transportation will place truck-tipping signs at the intersection of Routes 150 and 152.

DOT spokesman Ted Talbot said the signs will be in place within a week and a half.

“Something needed to be done in the way of warning drivers,” said Talbot.

A truck loaded with logs tipped over while rounding the curve and crashed into the Cambridge General Store on Aug. 23. Two other vehicles were damaged in the crash.

The driver, John Watson, 51, of Solon, told Somerset County Deputy Sheriff Don Avery that the intersection sneaked up on him in the early morning fog.

“With them putting the signs up, it’s going to be great,” said Brenda DiMeo, one of the owners of the Cambridge General Store. “It’s just that little extra to remind people that it is a dangerous corner. I’m glad they’re doing that.”

Talbot said tipping signs get truckers’ attention.

“Truckers tend to recognize those. Not only recognize, but also adhere to them,” said Talbot.

DiMeo said truckers and other motorists have been mindful of the intersection and can’t recall any other incidents since the August crash.

“They’ve been a lot better since the accident. I think it woke them up a little bit and they’re more cautious of their driving,” said DiMeo.

It took a month and a half after the crash before the store was back up and running like normal, she said. The owners got the cooler fixed only two weeks ago.

“Nobody was hurt, which is the biggest thing for me. My family was safe, the driver was safe. Material things can be fixed,” said DiMeo.

Talbot said the tipping signs might have gone up sooner, but signs in schools zones in that region take priority.

“Quite frankly, in school zones, we want to get to those sooner than later, especially when school is in session,” said Talbot.

He didn’t rule out that more may be done to improve the safety of that intersection.

“[We may] even put in a blinking light, not sure if that will happen,” said Talbot. “We’re even entertaining the use of guardrails. [Our region manager] may well secure the funds to get the guardrails there.”

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  • Scott Harriman

    “The driver…told Somerset County Deputy Sheriff Don Avery that the intersection sneaked up on him on the early foggy morning.”

    I got jumped by an intersection once.  It punched me in the face and took my wallet then disappeared into the foggy shadows.

  • Anonymous

    In reference to the  dangerous corner in Cambridge.
          It’s  obvious  that  a  STOP sign, with a  red  blinking overhead light  would  do  the  trick for  traffic  coming  from the  Harmony direction  to slow  the traffic  down. Even the  towns speed  limit of  25 mph is too fast  for a  top heavy truck, it needs  a  stop sign ( with  the STOP ahead signs posted in the  approximate location )
        I  believe the only reason  there  isn’t one  now  it a matter of inconvenience ( stopping for a sign on a  blind corner).   That inconvenience in itself  shouldn’t  out weigh the inevitable , loss of life.

  • Anonymous

    putting a stop sign on a curve???what the hell are you smoking??you wants some wrecks or fatalities,go ahead erect one…DOT engineers would laugh their asses off at your suggestion…

  • Anonymous

    I say they should put those blinking lights saying Caution sharp curves ahead, OOORRRRRRR people should just learn to slow down… My first time down through there was in a loaded truck after dark in the fog, guess what i didnt wreck, why? because i was going slow… and the driver i know has been through here more then once, he wasnt paying attention or he fell asleep and didnt want to say so, but either way he was going to fast

  • Anonymous

    I drive a big truck, and knock on wood, have never been in an accident. One reason is watching and paying attention to signs. I must say, those “truck tipping” signs get my attention every time.  Sometimes it seems like overkill, but “better safe than sorry” is a good motto.

  • Anonymous

    Reading over these comments it is the lights or no lights, no signs, fogg that cause the accidents…I’m looking at speed, the driver not paying attention, the driver not adjusting to the conditions…

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RX23W5V7A2J6BYTBB3MZJE5ZKA Jeff D

    A sixteen or twenty foot wide reflective arrow sign pointing right for Rte. 152 south and left for Rte. 150 north should tell the losers who won’t slow down that their life is almost over. Should help, a bit.

  • Anonymous

    If he’s like a lot of those log truck drivers, it probably snuck up on him because he was going 75mph.

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