2 injured in head-on collision in Charlotte Officer credits 79-year-old tractor-trailer driver with saving other man’s life

CHARLOTTE – Two men were injured Thursday in a head-on car-truck collision on Route 214, a Washington County Sheriff’s Department official said.

Sid Bahrt of Pembroke, in his 80s, was traveling east on Route 214 toward his home when his 1991 Subaru crossed the centerline and struck head-on a tractor-trailer driven by Harvey Moholland, 79, of Baileyville, according to Frank Gardner of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.

Bahrt’s vehicle went down an embankment and came to rest on the side of the road. The air bags in his vehicle deployed. After the 1999 Sterling tractor-trailer struck the car, the truck crossed the road and hit a stand of trees. Moholland had to be extricated from the cab.

“The Bahrt vehicle, for whatever reason, crossed over the centerline and entered the tractor-trailer’s traffic lane,” Gardner said. “Moholland did a pretty good job of avoiding him, but he did strike him head-on. We did have a witness to the accident who was following the Bahrt vehicle and saw him cross the centerline. She tried to signal him by blowing her horn repeatedly, but was unsuccessful at getting his attention.”

Gardner said Moholland’s injuries were not life-threatening. Both men were taken to Calais Regional Hospital where they were treated and released.

“Moholland did a real good job. I credit him with saving Bahrt’s life by crossing the centerline himself and ditching his rig on purpose,” he said. Gardner said the trailer was empty.

Route 214 was closed for most of the afternoon but reopened just before 5 p.m.

The accident remained under investigation Thursday afternoon.

Gardner was assisted by Downeast EMS, the Charlotte Fire Department, Calais Fire and Rescue and the Maine State Police Commercial Truck Enforcement Agency.