Unity man driving SUV dies in collision with tractor-trailer

UNITY – A local man was killed Wednesday morning when his sport utility vehicle was hit by a tractor-trailer as he attempted to turn into his driveway.

Kevin Von Oesen, 40, was stopped in traffic, waiting to make a turn off Route 202 near the Troy town line, when his SUV was hit from behind by another car at 10:52 a.m. The impact pushed Von Oesen’s vehicle into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer.

Van Oesen was taken by Unity Ambulance to a nearby location but died before a LifeFlight helicopter could fly him to the hospital, according to state Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland.

The driver of the vehicle that struck the rear of Von Oesen was Meldon MacDonald, 53, of Monroe and the operator of the truck was Ray Morse, 52, of St. Albans. Neither was injured in the crash.

The tractor-trailer owned by Gagne and Son of Belgrade overturned into a nearby field after the collision, spilling its load of cement blocks.

A team of six state troopers and a Waldo County deputy sheriff investigated the crash. The highway was shut down and traffic rerouted during the investigation.

Investigating Maine State Police Trooper Greg Voorman said no charges were filed against any of the drivers, but that the crash report will be reviewed by the Waldo County District Attorney’s Office once the investigation is completed.

wgriffin@bangordailynews.net

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