Hotel Road in Auburn was expected to remain closed overnight as crews worked to repair tracks that were damaged when a locomotive pulling 22 freight cars collided with a tractor-trailer Monday afternoon.
Auburn Fire Chief Frank Roma said the tracks must be repaired before the road can reopen. The crash, reported at 3 p.m., forced the truck onto its side, spilling its load of crushed rock, and derailed the train, though the cars remained upright, police said.
The driver of the truck, which is owned by Auburn Concrete, sustained minor injuries. His name was unavailable Monday.
The rear axle of the truck was ripped off by the collision, a witness said. Roma said the train did have several cars that could have been carrying hazardous materials, but all of the cars were checked and were found to be empty. The locomotive was the only part of the train that was damaged.
The train is owned by St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad, Roma said.
The crash knocked over a utility pole, draping wires over the train. Central Maine Power Co. said the crash cut power to parts of Auburn, New Gloucester and Poland. Power was restored Monday evening.
The intersection is not gated, but has red lights and bells that warn of an approaching train.
The freight trains that run on that line do not typically go fast there, a worker in the area said.
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