Route 1 was closed in Edgecomb for more than an hour on Christmas after slick conditions led to a five-car pile up near the intersection with Rt. 27.
Around 3:30 p.m., Samuel Hugh, 43, of Freeport, was northbound on Rt. 1 when he lost control, skidded into the guardrail, and then slid out in traffic.
The vehicle following him swerved into the guardrail to avoid him, and the vehicle behind that crashed into Hugh’s vehicle. Then, a southbound vehicle and another northbound vehicle swerved to avoid the crash and hit each other.
No serious injuries were reported; only one driver – Sarah Johnston, 40, of Newburyport, Mass. – was transported by ambulance, said Lt. Rand Maker with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
The five-car pileup was only one of 23 accidents around Lincoln County this weekend, Maker said. Almost all were very minor collisions, and with exception of one confirmed crash caused by a drunk driver, most are the result of slick winter conditions.
“The problem is people driving like it’s July when it’s December,” Maker said.
Maker said he hopes people will consider the conditions before they decide to drive. He cautions drivers to consider that when they crash, they put others – firefighters, police, and ambulance crews – in danger as well.
“If you don’t have to drive, don’t,” Maker said.
