SKOWHEGAN — Two Skowhegan brothers, ages 17 and 14, were injured today after their Jeep struck the back of a street sweeper kicking up dust.

The 14-year-old front seat passenger, Jacob Poirier, injured his leg and was flown to a Bangor hospital, Skowhegan Deputy Police Chief Dale Lancaster said. The boy could be heard yelling as rescue workers removed him from the battered vehicle.

Additional Photos

Skowhegan Police officer Herb Oliver speaks with street sweeper operator and Skowhegan Highway Department employee Duane Whittemore as firefighters force open the door of a Jeep to remove an injured male occupant on Tuesday. The Jeep collided with the rear end of the machinery as it cleaned Middle Road. Staff photo by David Leaming

The 17-year-old driver, Patrick Poirier, did not appear to be badly injured and mostly suffered cuts and bruises, he said.

It took time for Skowhegan firefighters and ambulance personnel to remove the boys, as the destroyed 1999 Jeep Cherokee had folded around them. They were each wearing a seat belt, and both airbags deployed.

Both were taken to Redington-Fairview General Hospital about half a mile from the scene, and Jacob Poirier was then flown by Life Flight helicopter to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor with non-life-threatening injuries, Lancaster said.

Duane Whittemore, 39, employed by the town, was driving the street sweeper in the direction of Fairfield on Middle Road when he said he felt “a massive jolt” around 2:30 p.m. as the Jeep rear-ended the sweeper.

Whittemore had periodically been putting down water, he said, but the dust was thick. He was not injured by the impact, but his hands were still shaking when he spoke.

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