TOPSHAM
A pickup truck that lost control on snow-covered roads Monday morning crossed the centerline and was struck by a garbage truck.
Doors had to be cut off the pickup truck so driver and passenger could be extricated from the pickup truck. They were transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.
The crash was reported at 6:19 a.m. on Route 196 near McConnell Motors not far from the Lisbon line. Topsham Police Lt. Fred Dunn said a pickup truck driven by Christopher Wheeler, 48, of Lisbon was traveling west on Route 196. Dunn said Wheeler was traveling too fast for road conditions and lost control of the truck, which slid into the oncoming lane of traffic and was struck on the front passenger side by a Waste Management garbage truck driven by Haven Richards, 52, of Bowdoin, who was not injured.
Wheeler sustained a serious injury and his passenger, Donald Schafer, 48, complained of pain. Both were transported to CMMC where Wheeler was in critical condition Tuesday afternoon according to a hospital spokesperson.
The pickup truck was totaled and the garbage truck sustained only minor damage. Traffic was flowing after the crash but there were backups, Dunn said.
No charges were filed.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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