Freezing rain causes multiple crashes in New Sharon on Friday

Nov. 26—Icy conditions in New Sharon Friday morning caused multiple car crashes, including one four-vehicle crash that sent several people to the hospital and forced one person to dive beneath the sliding trailer of an 18-wheeler whose driver had lost control of the truck.

Just after 9:30 a.m, the driver of a tractor-trailer lost control of his truck and crashed into several vehicles that were stopped on both sides of the icy road, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

Police said that Jean Fanfan, 41, of Raynham, Massachusetts, was driving a 2022 Peterbilt tractor down Mile Hill Road and was unable to stop despite multiple cars stopped on both sides of the road, police said.

He struck a parked 2016 Subaru Forester, driven by Julie Burdin, 30, of Strong. The Subaru was in the northbound breakdown lane facing downhill.

The impact caused the truck to veer to the opposite side of the road and into a deep ditch.

The trailer end of the truck pivoted 180 degrees, striking a 2015 Subaru parked in the southbound breakdown lane, facing uphill.

Police said driver Nancy Lloyd, 62, of Falmouth, was on the phone, standing outside of her vehicle, when the trailer slid sideways into her car. She dove for the ground as the trailer passed over her body, striking her vehicle.

The trailer also struck a 2008 Chevy Pickup, driven by Wyatt Campbell, 16, of Phillips, who was standing outside of his vehicle with his father, Ruben Campbell, 53, of Phillips.

Ruben Campbell was struck by the trailer box and thrown to the ground.

Police said several people were taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital, but did not say how many or the severity of their injuries.

Officials shut down Route 27 from Rome Corner, stopping all northbound vehicles and the Department of Environmental Protection was called to clean up a fuel spill from the tractor-trailer.

Simultaneously, police responded to a single-vehicle crash also traveling downhill on the road.

Katherine Cloutier, 60, of Topsham, lost control of her 2012 Dodge Avenger and spun 180 degrees, driving off the northbound lane and into a ditch. No injuries were reported.

A third crash, on the Rome side of Mile Hill Road, occurred at roughly the same time.

Police said an SUV rolled over just above the Hampshire Hill Road intersection, but did not provide additional details.

New Sharon is a town of about 1500 residents situated east of Farmington.