Chester crash leaves 1 dead, 1 badly hurt

CHESTER – A Pittsfield man was killed and a Lincoln man seriously injured in a head-on collision early Thursday on Access Road.

Charles Dickinson, 36, of Pittsfield was pronounced dead at Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln, according to state police Trooper Tom Fiske.

Jeffery Smith, 45, of Lincoln also was taken to Penobscot Valley Hospital, Fiske said. Because of the severity of his injuries, Smith later was transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center, where he was listed in fair condition by a hospital spokeswoman Thursday night.

Fiske said the cause of the accident was unclear Thursday. He said the fatality remained under investigation and a state police accident reconstructionist was called upon to assist. Neither speed nor alcohol was believed to have been a factor.

The accident occurred at 5:55 a.m., when Smith’s westbound Oldsmobile crossed the centerline into the path of Dickinson’s eastbound Chevrolet pickup.

Fiske said both men were on their way to work when the crash occurred. He said Dickinson worked in Lincoln, which Smith was heading to his job in Bangor.

Dickinson and Smith both were traveling alone and wearing seat belts, Fiske said. The air bags in their vehicles deployed. Both vehicles were demolished.