FARMINGTON – A minivan on Route 4 in Farmington was struck by a pickup truck Tuesday afternoon near Town Farm Road.
Rita Lindgren of Stratton said she had taken Town Farm Road to the north end of town to avoid the construction on Route 4. Intending to head back toward Farmington, she made a left onto Route 4 toward Strong out of habit, she said. When she realized her error, she pulled into a driveway on the right side of the road to turn around, she said.
She said that she had checked her rear-view mirror and over her shoulder before beginning to back out, but was surprised when she was struck by the pickup.
She was shaken but not injured.
Farmington Patrolman Michael Wahl Jr. issued Lindgren a summons for a moving violation, saying it was nothing personal, but it appeared she was at fault.
“I don’t pull any punches,” he said to her, apologetically.
The driver of the pickup truck, David Sokolosky of Branford, Conn., was returning to Rangeley with his future mother-in-law and fiancee after visiting his future father-in-law at Franklin Memorial Hospital. He said the minivan had pulled off onto the right shoulder and was attempting to make a U-turn when the accident occurred. He said he was unable to stop, but was traveling at the speed limit of 45 mph.
Sokolosky and his fiancee, Debora Bisshel, had come to Maine for the family emergency, but said that Bisshel’s father was doing better and that they had intended to head home Tuesday after bringing Bisshel’s mother, Virginia Swan, home.
“Looks like we’re not going anywhere now,” said Sokolosky.
Nobody was seriously injured, but Bisshel held an ice pack to her face. She had been sitting in the center of the truck’s bench seat, and believes she was struck by the rear-view mirror when it was knocked off the windshield by the impact. All occupants in the truck were wearing seat belts.
“What are you going to do?” asked Bisshel calmly. “You just roll with it; nobody really got hurt.”
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