Police are on the scene of an accident on Route 202 in Monmouth.

The accident, which is on the Monmouth/Winthrop town line, happened around 2:20 p.m.

Monmouth Police Chief Robert Annese said at 2:25 p.m. he did not know details about the accident but was en route.

A dispatcher for the Winthrop Police Department, which is assisting Monmouth police officers was also unclear on details.

"I'm not catching much from it," she said of the possible injuries. "But I do know a stretch of Route 202 will be shut down for quite awhile."

The dispatcher also said the LifeFlight helicopter was initially called to the accident, but was canceled before it could be dispatched.

Check back on www.kjonline.com for details.

In today's Kennebec Journal, there was an article about an accident at the intersection of Route 202 and Route 135.

Luckily, all 10 people involved -- including the two kids -- were OK.

But this is not the first time this writer -- and probably many of you readers -- have heard about accidents, some of them serious, happening at this intersection. In fact, this year alone, I have heard about at least three.

Bob Marshall, whose daughter lives less than a half of mile away from the intersection, said in the article he would like to see the speed limit reduced to 45 mph.

We want to hear from you folks who know this area of Winthrop well. Maybe you live on Route 202, or commute in there every morning and evening. Do you agree? Should officials consider reducing the speed limit at Route 135 and Route 202?

Drop us a line pronto at mmalloy@centralmaine.com or 623-3811 ext. 431 and let's chat about it.

We have a great discussion started concerning motorcycle safety and fatalities in our state. Many of you took time out of your day last night and all day today to drop us a line to offer your observations and thoughts. No one, however, mentioned if they ride a motorcycle themselves.

We'd like to talk to some of you motorcycle riders in the next few days for an upcoming column. What are some safety precautions you always take before taking to the road? What do you observe your fellow riders doing? What do you feel contributes to motorcycle related deaths in Maine?

Don't be bashful about speaking up; you could save a life!

You know the drill -- drop us a line pronto at 623-3811 ext. 431 or mmalloy@centralmaine.com.

Mary Peters, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, said late last week motorcycle-related deaths are contuing to climb, even though deaths in other traffic-related accidents, involving cars, trucks or buses, for example, are going down.

Though officials can speculate as to why these trends are continuing, nothing specific can pinpoint the cause.

There have been at least five motorcycle related deaths in central Maine this year alone, including the death of beloved school nurse, Susan McConnell, a 43 year-old woman frorm Winthrop.

Sound off: Why do you think motorcycle-related deaths continue to rise? What behaviors do you see motorcyclists take while on the road? If you're a motorcyclist, what precautions do you take when you ride?

Drop us a line at 623-3811 ext. 431 or mmalloy@centralmaine.com and fill us in.

Several vehicle accidents in the central Maine area may cause traffic tieups, and one Augusta Road had to be shut down.

Augusta police shut down Leighton Road after a dump truck rolled over around 3 p.m.

Elsewhere in the region, six vehicles were involved in a crash that required LifeFlight helicopters to be called.

The crash, reported at 2:20 p.m., happened on Route 3 near North Country Harley Davidson, according to police.

Finally, two people escaped serious injury after two vehicles crashed this morning in Litchfield.

The two drivers, the only people involved, were taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. The crash happened at Route 126 and Hallowell-Litchfield Road.

Check out tomorrow's Kennebec Journal for details on all three crashes.

There could be a delay for those of you heading south on the turnpike this afternoon.

State police continue to investigate a fatal accident involving a tractor trailer in the southbound lane at mile 84 near the Lewiston-Sabattus town line. Police say the rig veered off the turnpike and came to rest in the median. No other vehicles were involved.

Traffic has been reduced to one lane in the area.

Lots of travel-related topics making news today.

State safety officials are urging extra caution as roads turn much more crowded over the next several weeks.

July and August are the deadliest months on Maine roads and also the most traveled because of the influx of vacationers, Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said Thursday in his weekly "Communicator."

Two people died in separate crashes Tuesday in Gorham and Jay, bringing the death toll to 15 killed for the month of July, according to the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety.

State police also continue to cite drivers who operate their vehicles after their licenses have been suspended.

Troopers charged 261 people with operating after suspension (OAS) in June, bringing this year's total to 1,622 people charged with OAS, McCausland said.

On a happier note, officials with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife have announced that drivers with the conservation "Loon" Registration Plate will receive free admission to state parks and historic sites this weekend.

The pass is valid at parks managed by the Maine Department of Conservation and at participating historic sites. Conservation "Loon" Plate holders who visit the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray or Swan Island in Richmond this weekend will be asked to pay regular admission.

Sounds like a good weekend to get out and enjoy the outdoors...even if it is a tad on the warm side.

Contractors are expected to continue work near the Route 126 service plaza on the turnpike in West Gardiner Friday. Half of the eastbound travel land and shoulder is scheduled to be closed again tomorrow to allow fine road work and paving. Message boards will be in place to caution traffic of the pattern change.

Looks like a routine drive home. No major accidents have been reported.

Police are on scene of a vehicle crash on Route 27 in Sidney just north of Augusta.

At least one vehicle has rolled over, trapping the person inside, according to a police radio broadcast.

A broadcast shortly there after said a victim inside was unresponsive and did not have a pulse.

There was no immediate information regarding how many vehicles or victims are involved in the incident.

The road around the incident, which is about 3 miles north of Augusta, has been shut down, according to state police dispatch.

Police were dispatched to the scene about 3:30 p.m.

National Bike To Work Day

Several of you loyal readers have responded to Monday's column about Commute Another Way Week. Friday marks National Bike To Work Day. Will you be participating? Do you normally bike to work in nice weather? What are your safety concerns?

Drop a line to mmalloy@centralmaine.com or call 623-3811 Ext. 431

Accident in Hallowell

No one was injured in a late morning accident this morning, when an 83 year-old woman inadvertently reversed her vehicle into Dom's Barber Shop. No injuries were reported. Building owner Patti Burnett plans on repairing the damage immediately.

It must not be a good day to be on Water Street.

A tractor trailer on Water Street in Augusta became stuck after the truck failed to clear the bridge just after 1 p.m. today. No one was injured and the driver, Solomon Abaynh, of Boston, was able to drive his trailer away from the scene around 3 p.m.

"The minute I saw the sign I knew I was in trouble," Abaynh said of the sign attached to the bridge warning of low clearance.

Presently, police are on scene of an accident on Water Street in Hallowell, after receiving word there were "fluids" all over the road, a dispatcher for Augusta police said. No injuries were reported in that accident.

Maine State Police are on scene at a motorcycle-vs.-vehicle accident on High Street in West Gardiner.

Police were called the scene at 3:30 p.m. and remained on scene until at least 4:45 p.m.

Details about the accident, including how many people were involved and the degree of their injuries, were not immediately available.

The Kennebec County Sheriff's Office is responding to a vehicle accident on Route 17 in Manchester. According to a police radio broadcast, the accident has resulted in "serious personal injuries" and at least one person has been transported to a hospital.

Other details about the accident, including how many people and vehicles are involved in the accident, were not immediately released.

The commute in Augusta is clear, according to the Augusta Police Department dispatch.

No one appeared to be injured in a three-vehicle accident on Augusta’s northside this afternoon.

Augusta police dispatchers and Maine State Police troopers responded to the accident, in the southbound lane of Interstate 95 near exit 112 (by the mall) in the early afternoon today.

The dispatcher said no one involved in the accident was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The commute tonight is reportedly clear, except for the un-springtime weather happening right now. A mix of rain and snow is expected to continue tonight, with flurries for the morning commute tomorrow, according to the National Weather Service. The weather should not hinder morning traffic; less than half an inch is expected.

State troopers are still investigating an accident on I-295 near Bowdoinham this morning that killed a Pittsfield man.

Trooper Tim Black said a Panera Bread truck was making deliveries this morning when Christopher Strom, 30, stepped on to the interstate in the path on-coming traffic and was struck by the truck.

Black said traffic continued to travel safely, though troopers shut down one lane from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Why Strom stepped on to the interstate has yet to be determined, but Black said, "We found his car by the side of the road in good working condition."

Winthrop police are currently on the scene of a vehicle accident which reportedly has multiple injuries, according to a police radio broadcast.

A dispatcher at the Winthrop Police Department declined to release details, including the location of the accident, simply stating, "We're there working on it right now."

In Augusta and around the county, roads are reported clear of accidents.

Weekend warriors looking to fill up the gas tank before heading the slopes or looking to break out the snowshoes should check out these local gas stations for the area’s cheapest regular unleaded gasoline:

$3.08 — Getty, 25 Western Ave. in Augusta

$3.10 — Citgo, 146 Civic Center Dr. in Augusta

$3.11 — J & S, 132 Mt. Vernon Ave. in Augusta

Friday morning’s weather caused plenty of fender benders and accidents surrounding Augusta. For details on two accidents that sent four people to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, check out Saturday’s Kennebec Journal.

Dispatchers said no one was seriously injured in a late-morning accident in West Gardiner.

Dispatchers said two cars collided at Pond Road and Route 126 at 10:45 this morning. Only minor injuries were reported from the two drivers, though the crash caused a traffic tie-up.

The drivers’ names and the cause of the accident were not immediately released. The accident is still under investigation.

Looking for low gas prices? Check out these local stations:

$3.02 — Capitol Mini-Mart, 179 State St. in Augusta

$3.07 — Lukoil, 240 Riverside Dr. in Augusta

$3.09 — Exxon, 183 Capitol St. in Augusta

A teenage girl was severely injured this morning in a crash in Windsor.

Windsor Fire Chief Arthur Strout said two vehicles on Route 32, near the elementary school, sideswiped each other and collided.

One of the vehicles, carrying two girls on their way to school, lost control in the wintery slush and sideswiped the other vehicle on the passenger side, state Trooper Ryan Brockway said.

The girl sitting in the passenger side of the vehicle was trapped; an extrication device from the Augusta Police Department had to be used to free her.

“She’s hurt really bad,” Strout said this morning. “It did not look good at all.”

Brockway said the girl, whose identity was not released today, was initially taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center, then transferred to the hospital in Lewiston.

“It’s hard to say (if her injuries are) life-threatening,” Brockway said. “I believe her legs are broken, but to what extent, I just don’t know.”

The other vehicle was a pick-up truck driven by Rusty Peters, 34, of Winthrop, Brockway said. Peters suffered minor injuries to his face, forearm and leg.

Strout said his agency had to close Route 32 down for over an hour, reopening it at 8:30 a.m.

Brockway said Maine State Police are continuing to investigate the accident.

Today, a reminder from the Augusta Police Department about drunken driving during the holidays.

Don’t do it.

Police remind drivers that even being “buzzed” while driving is considered drunken driving.

The department offers these tips so drivers can enjoy a safe and festive holiday:

* Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
* Before drinking, designate a sober driver and give that person your keys;
* If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
* If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement;
* Remember, if you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely

For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org

Part of Route 17 in Chelsea has been shut down due to a vehicle accident, according to a police radio broadcast.

The accident apparently involves only one vehicle, which has rolled over and trapped the victim inside. Life flight services have been called.