WINSLOW — A man was seriously injured Tuesday morning when he pulled his car out in front of a large dump truck on Clinton Avenue and the impact launched the car down the road, into a ditch, and over a grassy knoll, police said.
David Brophy, 79, of 230 Clinton Ave., was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland. A hospital spokeswoman said late Tuesday afternoon that Brophy was not listed as a patient, so his condition and whereabouts were unclear.
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His neighbor on Clinton Avenue, Randy Huard, reported the crash at 9:35 a.m. and was in contact with the man’s family. Huard said Brophy suffered eight broken ribs, a broken collarbone and was bleeding internally.
Ron McGowen, investigating officer for the Winslow Police Department, said Brophy was driving a 2008 Mercury Milan when he pulled out of his driveway into the path of an 18-wheel truck driven by Troy Chase, 38, of Pittston. Chase, who is self-employed, was hauling a load of dirt on the mostly residential street, which has a 45 mph speed limit.
Chase told police that he attempted to swerve out of the way of the car, but couldn’t avoid hitting its driver side. The impact sent the car about 70 feet, McGowen said.
“It happened so fast,” Huard said. “It was just airborne when it hit the ditch. I heard an awful big bang when I saw it.”
Huard said he called 911 and ran out to the wrecked car. He couldn’t open the driver-side door. When he got the passenger-side door open, he saw Brophy sitting upright with the airbag against him — a surprise to Huard, who had expected to find the driver ejected from the car.
“I told him I had help on the way,” Huard said. “He was conscious, he was listening.”
Winslow rescue and police responded and shut that portion of the road down for about two hours. Chase complained of chest pain as paramedics extricated him from the smashed car and loaded him into the ambulance, McGowen said.
The car was destroyed and the dump truck sustained front-end damage, McGowen said. A Maine State Police commercial vehicle unit also responded to inspect the dump truck.
Chase was not injured and no charges were filed, McGowen said. The accident is still under investigation, he said.
Brophy was initially taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer Campus in Waterville and then taken by ambulance to the Portland hospital.
Huard said Tuesday that he was concerned about his neighbor, who takes blood-thinner medication. Brophy has lived at his Clinton Avenue house for at least several decades, Huard said.
Scott Monroe — 861-9239
smonroe@centralmaine.com
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