TOPSHAM
A driver ran a flashing red traffic light that was malfunctioning Monday afternoon due to high winds and was struck by another vehicle, police say.
The crash was reported at the four-way intersection of routes 196 and 201 at 3:30 p.m. According to police, when the crash happened, the traffic lights had gone to a flashing status and were being worked on by A.D. Electric. Traffic was heavy at the time. The north- and south- bound traffic had flashing red lights and the east- and west- bound traffic had flashing yellow lights.
A 2010 Hyundai driven by Catherine Welch, 32, of Brunswick, was traveling south and stopped at the flashing red light. Failing to yield the right of way, she then entered the intersection where she was struck by a 2003 Nissan traveling east and driven by Terry Smith, 46, of Lewiston. Welch had a two-year-old boy in her vehicle and Smith had a 10-year-old girl in his vehicle. No injuries were reported.
Topsham police posted on their Facebook page at 1:24 p. m. that the lights were malfuctioning and warned drivers they way want to avoid the intersection until A&D had finished repairs.
Topsham Police Lt. Fred Dunn said police had been getting complaints earlier in the day that the lights were flashing, and then they would reset. Public Works Director Dennis Cox said there have been various issues with the aging traffic signals, such as a $2,100 camera that had collected condensation on the lens and gave false readings just before dusk.
On Monday, however, Cox said A.D. Electric found an isolated problem. The wind shook the cabinet containing the controls badly enough so that a switch had come loose, causing the malfunction.
The Maine Department of Transportation has improvements planned for seven signalized intersections along Route 196 in Topsham for spring of 2016, though Cox said he’s pushed to have the work done this summer because the mechanics are breaking down.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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