December 12, 2012

State worker dies in Augusta crash

Police believe John Pearl, 64, suffered a medical problem before crashing a state-owned truck into a utility pole.

By Craig Crosby ccrosby@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA — A city man died Tuesday after he apparently had a medical issue, causing the state-owned truck he was driving to hit a utility pole on Hospital Street.

John Pearl, 64, died at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta shortly after the crash, said Augusta Police Sgt. Christopher Shaw. Investigators believe a medical incident led to the crash and ultimately resulted in Pearl's death. The state medical examiner is expected to determine a cause of death, Shaw said.

"The crash itself wouldn't have killed somebody," he said.

Pearl was a 26-year employee of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services Bureau of General Services, said Jennifer Smith, director of legislative affairs and communications for the state agency.

He worked in inventory and property and was on a routine delivery run when the accident occurred, she said.

The crash occurred around 8:15 a.m. as Pearl turned onto Hospital Street in the 2008 GMC box truck.

"He came off Piggery Road, took a right, and went right into the Central Maine Power pole," Shaw said.

The truck stopped against the pole, which was not damaged.

"The impact of the pole was so minor it did not appear he was traveling at a high rate of speed," Shaw said.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash. Traffic continued to flow on Hospital Street as emergency workers tended to Pearl and removed the truck.

Staff writer Susan M. Cover contributed to this report.

Craig Crosby -- 621-5642
ccrosby@mainetoday.com

 

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