February 1

Fairfield police to probe Thursday cruiser crash

Town's investigation to augment state police's look into U.S. Route 201 wreck with truck

By Doug Harlow dharlow@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

FAIRFIELD -- There will be an internal investigation into a motor vehicle crash Thursday morning involving a Fairfield police officer.

click image to enlarge

Fairfield police officer Shana Blodgett and Detective Sgt. Kingston Paul confer outside the cruiser that was destroyed, injuring officer Bill Beaulieu, after the cruiser and a truck collided on U.S. Route 201 in Fairfield on Thursday.

Staff file photo by David Leaming

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Officer Bill Beaulieu was treated at and released from a Waterville hospital after his cruiser was struck by a truck on U.S. Route 201.

"There will be a full investigation," Sgt. Matt Bard said Friday. He said the department's investigation will be in addition to the state police investigation.

Bard said the town manager and the Town Council will be able to look at the Fairfield report once it is completed.

Beaulieu was driving south when he attempted to make a quick turn on the highway to follow a northbound vehicle. His cruiser was hit by truck, also traveling north, destroying the cruiser and sending the truck off the road into trees.

Beaulieu's cruiser lights were on, but not the siren, Bard said. He said Beaulieu didn't see the truck.

No charges will be brought, said Maine State Police Trooper John York, who investigated the accident.

"There was no distraction," York said Thursday after the accident. "He was focused on the vehicle that he was turning on and turned into another vehicle's path."

The truck was going well under the speed limit and there were no brake marks, he said. The truck driver was uninjured.

U.S. 201 was closed to traffic in both directions for about three hours as state police troopers and commercial enforcement officers reconstructed the accident.

The truck, which didn't have a trailer attached, is registered to Central Maine Transport of Bangor. It had minor damage.

Doug Harlow -- 612-2367
dharlow@centralmaine.com

 

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