Woodland MPS worker dies in crash

NEW CANADA – A Woodland man was killed Tuesday morning when the pickup truck he was driving collided with a dump truck at about 6:15 on Route 161.

Kevin M. Brissette, 41, was driving north when the vehicle he was driving, a 2001 Chevrolet pickup truck belonging to Maine Public Service Co., crossed into the southbound lane where it collided with a dump truck operated by John Dubois, 31, of Fort Kent.

Brissette died at the scene, according to Maine State Police Trooper Daniel Marquis. Dubois suffered minor injuries, the trooper said.

The Fort Kent Fire Department used hydraulic rescue equipment to extricate Brissette’s body from the wreckage.

The 1988 International dump truck was owned by Morin Construction of Fort Kent. It had extensive front-end damage Marquis said.

Brissette was a construction supervisor for MPS, according to Virginia R. Joles, MPS communications director. He was on his way to work in Fort Kent when the accident occurred.

Brissette had worked for MPS for more than 11 years. He started as a meter reader, advanced through several line-worker positions, and was promoted in 1999 to construction supervisor, Joles said in a press release issued Tuesday.

“MPS workers are slowing down today, pulling together, offering support for the loss of their fellow worker and his family,” Joles said in the release. “For safety reasons, construction crews are limiting work assignments today.

“It’s difficult enough to work around electricity during normal times when 100 percent concentration is required,” she continued. “Today is a very sad day.”

She said counseling was being offered to employees who requested it.

The cause of the crash had not been determined as of late Tuesday afternoon. Marquis said state police reconstructed the accident.

Maine Public Service Co.’s safety and environmental coordinator also is investigating the accident, Joles said.

Marquis said some fuel spilled from the dump truck. Department of Transportation workers under the direction of the Department of Environmental Protection cleaned it up.

The Fort Kent ambulance also went to the accident scene.