WINN – A 69-year-old Lincoln man was killed Tuesday when his car collided head-on with a loaded pulp truck on Route 2.

Vinton Thurlow Jr. of Lincoln died as the result of the 11:15 a.m. accident, according to Penobscot County Detective Bill Flagg and Deputy Quinton Goodall.

Goodall said a witness told him that the accident occurred when Thurlow crossed the centerline into the path of a pulp truck operated by Ricky Lyford, 44, of Greenbush. Lyford was visibly shaken at the accident scene but was unhurt. The truck is owned by Rick Lyford Trucking of Greenbush.

Flagg said the cause of the accident remains under investigation. He said it was unclear why Thurlow crossed sides. He said police would wait to receive the accident reconstruction report, the medical examiner’s report and would look into Thurlow’s medical history.

“We saw it happen,” said Virgil McLaughlin of Lincoln, who was traveling behind Thurlow and witnessed the fatal accident. McLaughlin said the car went across the road and collided with the tractor-trailer.

Goodall said the Ford Taurus operated by Thurlow was a total loss. He estimated damage to the tractor-trailer at $20,000.

Traffic on Route 2 was diverted to the Old Military Road for more than five hours while emergency personnel cleared the wreckage from the roadway.

Maine State Police were reconstructing the accident.