MSP Investigating Two Separate Crashes Where Troopers Vehicles Were Struck

Shortly after midnight on July 19, 2024, a Maine State Police Trooper was responding to a motor vehicle crash in Gardiner using his emergency lights and siren on the Maine Turnpike in Lewiston. A 2015 Ford Pickup truck operated by 24-year-old Javier Martinez, of Waterville swerved erratically into the Trooper’s lane making contact with the right side of the cruiser causing minor damage to both vehicles. No one was injured in the crash. Further investigation revealed Mr. Martinez was operating under the influence of alcohol.  Mr. Martinez was summonsed for OUI and released pending a court hearing.

In the early morning hours of Friday, July 19, 2024, a Maine State Police Trooper was concluding a traffic stop on Rt. 1 in Gouldsboro and had just gotten back into his cruiser with the lights still activated when his cruiser was sideswiped by a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.  The damage was relatively minor and there were no injuries to either party from the collision.  The driver of the Jeep, 71-year-old Andrew Pratt of Cutler has been the subject of several law enforcement interactions and traffic complaints. An adverse driving report was filed with Bureau of Motor Vehicles by a Trooper on July 4, 2024. Pratt was summonsed for improper passing of a stationary emergency vehicle and another adverse driver report will be filed from this incident.