Officer in serious condition after weekend crash

BUCKSPORT – A patrol officer for neighboring Orrington who was injured in a weekend collision with a Bucksport police cruiser remained in serious condition Monday at an area hospital, officials said.

Deputy Sean Emery of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department was hurt Friday night when the cruiser he was driving struck a police car driven by Officer Matt Cyr of the Bucksport Police Department.

Cyr was treated, then released for minor injuries. “He’s doing OK,” Bucksport police Sgt. Sean Geagan said Monday.

Emery was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center, according to officials, who wouldn’t describe the nature or extent of his injuries.

A passenger in his vehicle, Penobscot County Jail corrections officer Tim Deering, injured his hand during the accident.

Emery and Deering both work full-time with the Penobscot County Jail’s corrections department and part-time as patrol deputies for Orrington, Chief Deputy Troy Morton of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.

Emery and Deering were chasing a fast-moving motorcycle at 10:50 p.m. Friday on Route 15 through Orrington, officials said.

Cyr responded from the south to assist with the chase when he spotted the motorcyclist. The Bucksport officer was turning his vehicle near the north gate of the International Paper Co. mill when his cruiser was struck on the passenger side by the deputies from Orrington. The motorcyclist got away.

The incident was under investigation Monday, according to Morton.

“It’s a two-part investigation,” he said.

Officials are scrutinizing both the high-speed chase and the crash scene, which is the policy for every high-speed accident, Morton said.