WELLS — A man who was holding a yard sale at his home was killed Saturday morning after two trucks collided and a 30-foot trailer flipped off Route 9, also known as North Berwick Road.

Jeff Dickerson of Wells died after he was struck and pinned by the trailer, police said.

Claudette Desjardins, a second person who was pinned, was taken to a Portland hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. The ages of Dickerson and Desjardins were not available Saturday night.

The accident happened around 8:45 a.m.

David Hoyt Sr., 72, of Wells was driving a Dodge pickup east on Route 9 when he attempted to make a U-turn, said Wells Police Officer John Riegel.

Hoyt apparently did not see an oncoming Toyota Tundra, or he might have underestimated the time it would take him to make the turn, Riegel said. The Tundra was hauling a 30-foot Puma travel trailer, which is about 10 feet tall and weighs about 10,000 pounds.

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The driver of the Tundra could not avoid the Dodge, and the two trucks collided, Riegel said. The travel trailer jackknifed, flipped over and tumbled off Route 9 and onto the property at 1123 North Berwick Road, where people were looking at yard sale items.

Firefighters used specially designed airbags to lift the heavy trailer from the ground. The two victims were removed and taken by ambulance to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where Dickerson was pronounced dead.

The driver of the Tundra suffered a cut to his face but was otherwise not hurt. Hoyt, the driver of the Dodge pickup, suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, and he was also taken to the hospital.

Maine driving laws allow U-turns on state roads, except at curves or near the crests of hills. Saturday’s crash happened on a flat straightaway with a 50 mph speed limit. But the driving laws also require motorists to drive in a manner that does not endanger other vehicles, property or pedestrians.

There is no indication that alcohol was a factor, Riegel said.


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