Spilled Dirt Load and Overturned Dump Truck Block 2300 Block of Route 6 in Penobscot County

Lee, ME - A loaded commercial dump truck overturned Friday afternoon along Route 6 in Lee, injuring the driver, spilling a full load of dirt across the travel lanes, and forcing an extended highway closure.

Lee Fire Rescue personnel were paged at 12:35 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026, for a reported motor vehicle crash along the 2300 block of Lee Road (Route 6).

First-arriving emergency units found a large commercial dump truck resting on its side directly in the middle of the roadway. The driver, who was the sole occupant, successfully self-extricated from the compromised passenger compartment but remained stranded atop the overturned vehicle. Rescue crews deployed ground equipment to assist the driver safely down from the wreckage.

The operator sustained minor injuries and was treated on scene by medical personnel before being transported to a regional hospital for further evaluation. Preliminary reports indicate the driver swerved to avoid striking a deer crossing the road, which destabilized the loaded vehicle and caused it to roll onto its side.

Route 6 remained fully shut down in both directions for several hours as operating personnel secured fluid leaks, cleared the widespread load of spilled dirt, and coordinated heavy vehicle recovery. Lee Fire Rescue operated on scene alongside the Maine State Police, Bouchard's Towing, and the vehicle's owner to clear the thoroughfare and reopen it to traffic.