Maine State Police Cruiser Involved in Fatal Crash

According to a press release from the Maine Department of Public Safety's Shannon Moss, a Maine State Police cruiser has been involved in a fatal crash.

That crash left a Maine State Trooper injured and the driver of the other vehicle deceased.

The press release explains that, at about 7:30 on Wednesday evening, Maine State Police Trooper Ryan Murray was parked in a gravel turnout off Route 180 in Ellsworth, when his marked cruiser was struck by another vehicle.

The press release explains:

The initial investigation indicates that 43-year-old Jonathan Wood of Winter Harbor was traveling south on Route 180 in a 2008 Toyota Sienna when his vehicle crossed the roadway and then traveled into the dirt turnout striking Trooper Murry’s cruiser.  Wood’s van rolled over and he was ejected from the vehicle.  Wood was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene from his injuries.

Fortunately, Trooper Murry was not seriously injured.  He was taken to a local hospital, checked out, and then released.

Ellsworth PD and Ellsworth Fire and Ambulance assisted with the incident.

READ MORE: An Open Letter to Mainers Who Walk & Bike to Work

While investigators did reconstruct the crash scene, the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Our thoughts go out to all those affected by this tragedy.

This is the second incident involving a Maine State Police cruiser this week.  According to WGME, a Maine State Police trooper was injured during a chase through Oxford County.  The trooper, who was unfamiliar with the roads, failed to negotiate a curve in the road and crashed.  Fortunately, he and his K9 partner were able to get out of the vehicle before it caught fire.