Maine State Police have identified the 55-year-old New Hampshire man killed Saturday in Lebanon when his pickup overturned and pinned him underneath.
Michael Meattey of Barrington, New Hampshire, died in the crash on Center Road, according to spokesman Stephen McCausland. His passenger, Ronald Jones, 62, of New Hampshire, was treated and released from a hospital. Neither man had been wearing a seat belt.
The release of Meattey’s name was delayed because state police could not immediately locate his relatives.
According to McCausland, the driver lost control of his pickup truck, which overturned and pinned him underneath. Passers-by stopped and freed the man, but he died at the scene.
“Both men had attended a marijuana festival in Lebanon, and had left the event a few minutes before the crash,” McCausland said.
Though McCausland did not identify the event, the only medical marijuana festival in Lebanon this past weekend was the “Live, Love, Laugh Festival,” which was held Aug. 18-20, according to the organizers’ Facebook page. The Facebook post said the festival featured edible and smokable marijuana products and was billed as “Southern Maine’s 4th Annual Green Love Celebration.”
State police Trooper Rick Spicer told the Rochester Voice that the victim was driving a friend home from the festival around 8:30 p.m. when he swerved off the road, caught the soft shoulder and overcorrected. Spicer said the truck spun around and rolled over.
Spicer told the newspaper that there was no smell or evidence of alcohol use. As is required in all fatal motor vehicle accidents, the state will conduct a blood-alcohol test.
Roads at the time of the accident were rain-soaked and slippery, making for treacherous driving conditions.
Gillian Graham can be contacted at:
ggraham@pressherald.com
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