Old Orchard Beach man transported by LifeFlight after turnpike accident Friday

An Old Orchard Beach man was taken to the hospital by LifeFlight of Maine after an accident on the Maine Turnpike Friday evening.

Maine State Police arrived shortly after 6 p.m. on Friday night at the mile marker 42 of the southbound Maine Turnpike in Scarborough after receiving numerous reports of a significant crash in that area, according to a press release from Lt. Aaron Turcotte with the Maine State Police.

Traffic was already congested due to other crashes in the area when a 2017 U-Haul, driven by Jason McAvoy, 59, of Old Orchard Beach, collided with a tanker truck operated by Kenneth Openshaw from Massachusetts, said Turcotte. The force of the collision propelled the tanker truck forward, causing it to strike a 2023 Subaru driven by Thomas Gillis, 32, of Old Orchard Beach. This caused a chain reaction, resulting in the Subaru rear-ending a 2005 Dodge Ram operated by Zachary Taylor, 31, of Searsmont, shutting all three southbound lanes, said Turcotte.

State troopers arrived to find McAvoy trapped inside the U-Haul. Fire departments from Scarborough, Portland, and South Portland along with several tow trucks responded quickly to ensure his safe extraction, said Turcotte. LifeFlight promptly landed nearby and transported McAvoy to Maine Medical Center in Portland while other drivers received treatment at the scene, said Turcotte.

Driver fatigue and inattention are believed to be the main contributing factors leading to the crash, said Turcotte.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.