Crash Kills Man Whose Truck Crossed Center Line [CORRECTION]

We have to correct this story from Tuesday. We had been reporting that the commercial truck crossed the center line when, in fact, it was the pickup. The man in the pickup was killed.

Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith said in a press release that the call of a 2 vehicle serious injury crash came in at around seven o'clock Tuesday morning. Several agencies from around the region responded to the site on US Route 1A in Harrington by the VFW Hall.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Michael Strout, age 53 of Milbridge, was driving east on US Route 1A when his pickup crossed the center line and hit a Peterbilt truck owned by Mark Wright Disposal nearly head-on. Strout was pronounced dead at the scene. His juvenile son, who was a passenger in the pickup, was unhurt but was taken to the hospital to be checked out.

The driver of the Peterbilt, Stephen Robinson, age 46 and also of Milbridge, was not hurt in the collision. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage.

The Sheriff's office is now investigating the reasons why Strout crossed the center line. Strout was not wearing his seat belt, but his son and Robinson reportedly were. Speed does not appear to have been a factor.

Our apologies to all parties involved for the original misinformation.

Responding to the crash were Deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, The Maine Marine Patrol, State Police troopers, Pleasant River Ambulance, Fire Departments from Harrington and Addison, and the Milbridge Police Department.