Caribou Wrong-way Driver Dies in Collision on Turnpike in Kittery

A Caribou man is dead after a collision with a tractor trailer on the Maine Turnpike in Kittery.

Maine State Police spokesperson Shannon Moss says the crash happened at approximately 12:37 Thursday morning on the Maine Turnpike. 29-year-old Caleb Ewing of Caribou died at the scene, while the tractor trailer driver, 46-year-old Joshua Stone of Auburn, was unhurt. Both vehicles were heavily damaged.

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Police say it appears as if Ewing entered the turnpike in Kittery, traveling in the wrong direction, going northbound in the southbound lane. Stone was traveling southbound and attempted to avoid the crash, but was unable to get out of the way of the car. Ewing struck the side of the truck, that was loaded with bottled water. The collision ruptured the truck's fuel tank, which caused diesel fuel to spill out onto the roadway.

The turnpike was shut down to one lane for hours, while police investigated the circumstances of the crash and the vehicles were removed from the scene. Assisting in this investigation were the Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, the Kittery Fire Department, Kittery Police Department, York Police and Fire Departments, the Department of Environmental Protection, and National Wrecker Service.

This investigation is ongoing. Officials say it's unclear whether speed and/or alcohol were contributing factors.