Dixmont man killed in crash on Route 9

NEWBURGH – A Dixmont man was killed Monday afternoon when his car crossed the centerline and struck a tractor-trailer head-on on Route 9 near the Mudgett Road.

Gary Crocker, 46, died instantly, Sgt. Scott Young of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office said Monday night.

The truck driver, Derek Gould, 40, of Dexter, suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

There were no passengers in either vehicle.

Gould, who works for Ferreira Trucking of Unity, was headed north on Route 9 about 4:30 p.m. when Crocker’s 1993 Buick Skylark crossed the road into his path, Young said.

There was no indication that Crocker hit the brakes, the deputy said.

The truck, loaded with paper products, went off the road and into a wooded area before stopping, according to Young. Crocker’s vehicle came to rest in the northbound breakdown lane.

An accident reconstruction team from the Maine State Police was still at the scene late Monday night.

Route 9 was closed for several hours between the Kennebec Road and Route 69. Traffic was rerouted along the Kennebec Road through Hampden to Route 69, Young said.

Firefighters from Dixmont and Newburgh went to the accident scene.