Truck driver dies in crash on turnpike

AUBURN – A tractor-trailer driver was killed early Friday when his rig careened into the woods after sideswiping another truck that was parked in the breakdown lane of the Maine Turnpike, state police said.

Don Gustin, 61, of Dayton was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gustin, whose truck was hauling a Hannaford Bros. Co. trailer, was headed north shortly after midnight when he drifted into the parked truck about a mile south of Exit 12, Trooper Lee Vanadestine said.

As it continued, the truck left the pavement and headed down an embankment into several large trees.

The disabled truck was unattended. After turning on its hazard flashers and placing traffic cones on the road, the driver had left for Exit 12 to await assistance.