The driver of a dump truck that crashed into the woods near the cell tower off the southbound side of Rt.1 in Newcastle Thursday was discovered dead at the scene of the accident.
According to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Jason Nein, rescue personnel responding to the scene discovered Malcolm L. Giles, 72, Edgecomb, deceased, in the cab of his 2004 Peterbuilt dump truck. Witnesses reported the crash around 12:10 p.m., Nein said.
Following standard procedure, blood samples were taken and the Maine State Medical Examiner’s office will conduct an examination to determine the cause of death.
“It was full size, unloaded dump truck, towing a full size, unloaded trailer,” Nein said. “It appears as though he was traveling south. He drifted into the southbound shoulder, struck the embankment of the road that leads to cell tower site, vaulted that, came down on the other side of the embankment, struck some trees and came to rest.”
At this time, there is no reason to believe speed, alcohol, or drugs were contributing factors, Nein said. It is also unknown whether Giles’ death happened before or after the crash.
“That’s where the medical examiner’s office comes into play,” Nein said. “They will make a determination whether death was caused by trauma from the crash or it was caused by some other medical event.”
The Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection was called to the scene because an unknown amount of diesel fuel spilled as a result of the crash.
State Police commercial vehicle enforcement investigators responded to the scene and will do an onsite inspection of the truck to determine whether a mechanical factor contributed or caused the crash.
Newcastle Fire and Rescue units assisted LCSO deputies at the scene. The primary investigating officer is LCSO Deputy Brian Collamore. Nein is performing the accident reconstruction.
