DENMARK, Maine — Oxford County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating a crash that happened Friday morning in Denmark, after a dump truck went off the road, knocking down several trees and a utility pole, which hit the windshield of a school bus.
Sheriff's deputies, the Denmark Fire Department, and the United Ambulance Service responded to the crash at 6:40 a.m. near the Denmark Town Hall on East Main Street and Route 117, according to a release from the sheriff's office.
A 2007 Volvo dump truck registered to R. Rolfe Corporation and driven by 52-year-old Dennis Michaud of Casco was traveling southbound when it went off the road and crashed into trees and a utility pole, the release stated. There were no passengers inside the truck, and the driver was not injured.
The tree branches and utility pole slapped the front windshield of a yellow 2021 Thomas School bus registered to MSAD 72 of Fryeburg, driven by 69-year-old John Partridge of Brownfield. Officials said there were seven children on the bus at the time, but no one was injured.
The sheriff's office said the bus windshield and side door were smashed and the roof was also damaged. All students were removed safely through the back emergency exit, with assistance from the fire department and rescue personnel.
The dump truck went back out onto the roadway and left the scene headed south. The truck driver was later located nearby.
The Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle Unit also responded to the scene to assist with standard procedure, since the crash involved a commercial vehicle.
The Oxford County Sheriff’s Office has summonsed the R. Rolfe Corporation with
Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle, and the driver Michaud for leaving the scene
of a crash, the release states.
This investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding the crash should contact the Oxford County Sheriff's Office.
