Arizona man uninjured in Newburgh car crash

NEWBURGH – The collision between a Volkswagen Beetle and tractor-trailer that pinned an Arizona man in his car on Thursday afternoon also sent his poodle to a local veterinary clinic with possible internal injuries.

The driver was treated at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor and released, but his female dog, Mango, was still under observation at Brewer Veterinary Clinic that evening.

Stephen Richmond, 51, of Arizona, who is in the process of moving to the area, was traveling on Route 69 away from Interstate 95 around 1:20 p.m. when he apparently pulled out into Route 9 in front of a tractor-trailer driven by Danny Chausse, 32, of Winterport.

“[Richmond] did stop but apparently did not see the oncoming tractor-trailer” and pulled into the roadway, Trooper Brenda Coolen, of the Maine State Police, said. “There was no way he [the truck driver] was going to stop.”

The impact shoved the 2004 Volkswagen into a hard-packed snowbank, spraying debris all over the roadway, crushing the driver’s side of the small passenger car and pinning Richmond inside.

Firefighters from Hampden and Newburgh worked to free Richmond using both hydraulic extrication equipment and steel pry bars. He was transported to the hospital because he was shaken up by the collision, Coolen said. While the accident appeared more serious, the trooper said Richmond was not injured.

Hampden police officers were on hand to direct traffic.

Chausse was driving for WFT Environmental of Levant and was traveling from Bangor’s Wastewater Treatment Plant to New England Organics in Unity. The front right bumper and corner panel of the truck were damaged in the crash.

Some drivers “think a big truck like that can stop like a car,” said Chausse’s wife, Marie, after arriving at the scene to check on her husband. As she watched him inspect his truck, she said, “It’s not going to stop on a dime.”

The intersection of Routes 9 and 69 is known locally as a troublesome area for drivers, she said.

“All I can say is, thank God,” Marie Chausse said.

Veterinarian Robert Feher said Mango, who is about 12 years old and was bleeding through the nose when brought to the clinic, is in relatively stable condition.

X-rays have been taken on the gray poodle and she has a “little bit of fluid in her abdominal cavity,” he said, adding the pooch also was stunned.

A dog lover passing by the scene stopped to take the canine to the vet, Coolen said, adding she was not sure whether the dog or the Volkswagen’s very dark tinted windows contributed to the accident. No charges are expected.

nricker@bangordailynews.net

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