SCARBOROUGH — State Police have provided an update on the multi-vehicle accident that occurred on Dec. 27, causing significant traffic disruptions on the Maine Turnpike.
At around 6:04 p.m., authorities were called to the scene near mile marker 42 where a 2017 U-Haul, driven by Jason McAvoy, 59, of Old Orchard Beach, had collided with a tanker truck operated by Kenneth Openshaw from Massachusetts.
The impact caused the tanker to strike a 2023 Subaru driven by Thomas Gillis, 32, also of Old Orchard Beach, which then rear-ended a 2005 Dodge Ram operated by Zachary Taylor, 31, of Searsmont.
The crash shut down all three lanes southbound amid already congested traffic due to previous accidents.
Upon arrival, troopers found McAvoy trapped inside the U-Haul.
Emergency responders from Scarborough, Portland, and South Portland Fire Departments, alongside several tow trucks, worked to safely extract him.
McAvoy was subsequently airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland by LifeFlight, while the other involved drivers received treatment at the scene.
The State Police Crash Reconstruction and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement units joined Turnpike Troopers in conducting a detailed investigation, which suggested that driver fatigue and inattention were the main factors contributing to the crash.
