FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — A Fort Fairfield man has died following a crash involving a UTV and tractor-trailer Thursday afternoon.
At about 1:45 p.m., emergency personnel responded to a report of a crash on Presque Isle Street in the area of McShea Siding, the Fort Fairfield Police Department said in a release.
When officials arrived at the scene, they discovered that 63-year-old Robert Chambers of Fort Fairfield was driving a 2021 Can-Am UTV south on Presque Isle Street in an area where the local ATV trail utilizes the public way to connect trails when he "turned abruptly into the roadway from the shoulder" in an attempt to cross the road to reach the ATV trail.
Police said when Chambers made the turn, he was struck by a loaded 2007 Kenworth tractor-trailer that was being driven by a 21-year-old from New Brunswick. The tractor-trailer driver was reportedly also driving southbound.
Chambers was ejected from the UTV and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release. Aub-Roy was not injured.
A crash reconstructionist who responded to the scene determined Chambers was not wearing a helmet or seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Presque Isle Street, also known as Route 1A, was closed for about 3 hours while the scene was investigated. As of 6:50 p.m., police said the road is back open.
Fort Fairfield Fire Rescue, the Maine State Police, the Presque Isle Police Department, the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office, the Maine Department of Transportation, and the Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit assisted.
No additional information was released.
