A Berwick man was charged with assaulting a police officer Wednesday in a confrontation with a York County sheriff’s deputy who was investigating a crash in Lebanon.

Sgt. Roger Hicks was called to a crash at 1 p.m. on the Carl Broggi Highway, where a car had collided with a dump truck.

John Lapierre, 19, of Berwick was driving an older model dump truck when he tried to turn right onto Blaisdell Corner Road, the sheriff’s office said. Gerard Laferte, 56, of Lebanon tried to pass on the right in a 2006 Toyota sport utility vehicle and hit the right side of the truck, sending it into a ditch.

Laferte said Lapierre had signaled for a left turn, police said.

Dorothy Laferte, 65, wife of the Toyota’s driver, was hit in the chest by the truck’s mirror and taken to Goodall Hospital in Sanford.

Lapierre’s father, John Lapierre Sr., 43, of Berwick, arrived and began questioning Hicks’ assessment of the crash. Hicks warned him repeatedly not to interfere, the sheriff’s office said.

Francis Lapierre, 69, grandfather of the truck driver, also arrived and became agitated that Hicks was questioning the attachment of a dealer plate on the truck. He was warned to leave or face arrest, and he refused, the sheriff’s office said.

John Lapierre Sr. stepped between Hicks and Francis Lapierre, then shoved Hicks, the sheriff’s office said.

During a struggle that followed, Hicks was pushed into a tree and hit his head. He arrested John Lapierre Sr. on charges of assaulting an officer and obstructing government administration.

Other deputies and Sanford police arrived to quell a crowd of about 15 people who had gathered, and to arrest Francis Lapierre on a charge of disorderly conduct.

Staff Writer David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:

dhench@pressherald.com