GORHAM—Witnesses at a deadly crash involving an SUV and a dump truck on slick Narragansett Street Monday morning said they felt “helpless” as they did the best they could to help the five victims.

The accident claimed the life of a Gorham man and hospitalized four others including three elementary school girls. “It’s an awful tragedy,” Town Council Chairman Michael Phinney said Tuesday.

Joseph Piawlock, 45, was pronounced dead at the scene. Yvonne Piawlock, 39, the driver of the SUV that collided with the dump truck, and three girls were injured. Two of the three girls are daughters of the Piawlocks and the other girl was a friend, Gorham Police Chief Daniel Jones said Tuesday.

Yvonne Piawlock lost control “due to road conditions” and crossed into the path of the dump truck, according to Gorham Police Lt. Michael Nault

Piawlock was in satisfactory condition Wednesday at Maine Medical Center, a spokesman said. Two of the girls remained in critical condition Wednesday, and the third’s condition is improving, Nault said.

The driver of the dump truck, Daniel Aceto, 54, of Gray, was not injured, police said.

Gorham resident Al Garcia is helping to organize a benefit for the family, but details were not available by the American Journal press time on Wednesday.

Garcia said the community is hurting. “I just can’t imagine the grief and pain, especially around the holidays,” he said in an email.

The accident closed a section of Narragansett Street (Route 202) from the bypass roundabout to Cousins Road for about three hours.

Gorham Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre said rescue workers used the Jaws of Life to cut the five people from the SUV wreakage.

According to the police report, Piawlock, who was headed towards Buxton, lost control of the gray SUV, crossed into the opposing travel lane and collided with the dump truck that was northbound.

A witness, Dennis Nickerson of Gorham, lives near the accident scene and was following the dump truck. “It was pretty horrific,” Nickerson said. “I saw it all.”

He said the vehicle slid sideways. “Roads were extremely slippery,” Nickerson said.

“The truck driver had no place to go,” Nickerson said.

Nickerson and a couple others at the scene got two of the SUV doors open but were unable to do enough to help the five unconscious people inside.

“You feel helpless,” he said, adding that the dump truck driver called 911.

He praised fast action by rescuers, who extricated those trapped in the wreckage. “My hats off to Gorham Fire Department,” he said.

Jacob Smith, who also lives on Narragansett Street, was on the highway and turned around when he became aware of the crash in his rearview mirrors. He talked with Nickerson at the scene.

“I grabbed hammers. We did the best we could,” Smith said.

Smith said the driver side of the vehicle was pinned against a fence. “The truck driver was just beside himself,” Smith said. “He was visibily shaken.”

The truck, a single-axle, GMC Brigadier, had significant front-end damage, said Carl Phillips of Phillips and Sons Body Shop, who was called to the scene to it.

Ambulances from Gorham, Buxton, Standish and Scarborough helped transport the injured to Maine Medical Center.

The Piawlocks bought a home at 9 Faith Drive in 2012, according to Gorham tax records.

“It’s tragic,” said Gail Platts, administrative assistant at Gorham Recreation Department. Platts knows the family’s children, who have participated in recreation activities.

Gorham School Superintendent Heather Perry said Tuesday that “all three children” involved in Monday’s crash attend Narragansett Elementary School, which is a K-5 school. Perry did not release the girls’ grades.

On Tuesday, the school brought in counselors from across the district to work with students and staff on an as-needed basis, Perry said. “These additional supports will be in place all day today, and will remain in place for as long as we feel we need to provide these supports to our Narragansett family,” she said.

Narragansett Street is a heavily traveled, commuter arterial and the accident occurred near the highway’s intersection with Harding Road.

Gorham Police Department, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department and the commercial division of Maine State Police are investigating the accident.

Gorham Police Officer Brent Frank surveys the deadly scene of an accident Monday involving an SUV and a dump truck on snow and slush-covered Narragansett Street. The accident claimed the life of Joseph Piawlock of Gorham and hospiatized his wife, Yvonne, two daughters and another girl.