MTA Worker Dies After Being Struck By Vehicle In Construction Area

A Maine Turnpike Authority employee was killed Friday when he was struck by a truck at a construction site along the turnpike near the Portland-Westbrook line, police said.

Jeffrey Abbott, 53, of Saco was struck by the vehicle after he exited a MTA truck to pick up some safety cones, said Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland.

The driver of the vehicle that struck Abbott was Cody Craig, 20, of Turner, McCausland said.

Police said the truck Craig was operating, which was owned by Nortrax Corp. of Westbrook, struck two other vehicles that had slowed down due to the construction project. The truck then veered into the construction area and struck Abbott.

The drivers of the two vehicles that were struck by the truck were not hurt.

The crash was reported at 1:35 p.m., and troopers cleared the scene at 5:15 p.m.

No charges have been filed. The crash report will be reviewed by the Cumberland County District Attorney's Office after it is completed.