Looking Back: Maine’s Biggest Traffic Pile-up Was 10 Years Ago

It was a scary morning 10 years ago in Carmel when cars and trucks piled up on I-95, a crash involving over 100 vehicles.

We Were On the Phone With a Trooper When the Pile-up Began

I remember that day like it was yesterday. We got a phone call just after 7:30 in the morning on February 15, 2015, from a Maine State Police Trooper who asked that we tell people to stay off the interstate because a few vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction crash at mile marker 172 northbound of I-95 in Carmel. As we talked to him, he suddenly said, 'Oh, crap.' That's when the real pile-up began.

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Maine's Worst Pile-Up Involved 101 Vehicles and 149 People With Various Injuries

Estimates for the number of vehicles increased from 70 to 75, reaching 101 when all the debris was cleared. One firefighter described the scene as a jumble of metal, including cars, pickup trucks, tractor-trailers, wreckers, and even a school bus.

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149 people were in those vehicles and all but one were wearing their seatbelts. Injuries varied from serious to minor but, miraculously, there were no fatalities.

The cause of the crash was a combination of poor visibility because of falling snow, icy road conditions, and people driving too fast, despite that fact the speed limit on the interstate had been reduced to 45 miles per hour. Both sides of the interstate were closed for at least five hours while police and first responders climbed over vehicles to access people trapped in their cars and trucks. It was a long, frigid day with temperatures at the initial crash only 15 above zero.

The Maine Spirit Was Alive and Well as Bystanders Helped Those in the Crash

In the final report, Maine State Police reported that some of the aid to passengers came from other motorists who were stopped in traffic by the crash. They provided blankets, cell phones, and warm vehicles for people to shelter from the elements while they waited for family or friends to arrive.

Mainers helping Mainers, even in times of crisis. That's what this state is all about.