Slick roads lead to I-95 crash in Island Falls

6 years ago

ISLAND FALLS, Maine — Slush covered roads are being cited as a contributing factor in a single car rollover accident on Interstate 95 near Island Falls Monday morning.

According to Maine State Police Trooper Adam Stoutameyer, Jeffrey Rutter, 67, of Jay was traveling south on Interstate 95 in a 2014 Subaru SUV at an unspecified time Monday morning when he lost control of his vehicle while attempting to pass a tractor trailer.

“The road surface was wet except for the outer left half of the passing lane which was covered with slush,” the trooper stated in a press release. “Rutter stated that as he was passing the tractor trailer his vehicle got caught in the slush, and the slush pulled his left wheels off the side of the roadway. Rutter over corrected which caused the vehicle to skid sideways off the left side of the roadway. The vehicle then rolled over more than once and came to rest on the passenger side in some trees.”

Rutter and his two passengers — Juliette Madore, 75, and her daughter Brenda Moore, 46, both of Van Buren — had to be extricated from the vehicle as they were trapped inside for a short time. Rutter was transporting the two women to Scarborough for an appointment.

Rutter was not hurt but the two women sustained injuries that were not considered life threatening, according to the trooper. The two women were transported to Houlton Regional Hospital by Island Falls Ambulance.

The operator of the tractor trailer was not identified. No charges were filed in the accident.