ANSON — A dog that was trying to climb across the front seat of a truck Wednesday on Pease Hill Road caused an accident that sent two people to the hospital, police said.

Ethan Vaillancourt, 26, of Anson, was driving east on the road around 2:20 p.m. when he crossed into the path of another driver, according to Cpl. Eugene Cole, of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.

Vaillancourt told police at the scene that he was distracted by his dog trying to climb onto his lap in the front seat of the vehicle, a 1998 Dodge Dakota pickup truck, Cole said.

Vaillancourt hit a 2001 Chevy pickup truck that was driven by Raymond Luce, 70, of Cornville, Cole said. The pickup trucks collided head-on and were destroyed.

Both men had injuries that included cuts and abrasions and complaints of body pain, Cole said. He said the injuries were not life-threatening.

Luce was taken to Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan and Vaillancourt was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington. Information on the conditions of the two men was not immediately available Wednesday afternoon.

The accident is under investigation, and Cole said Wednesday he was unsure whether there would be any charges. Deputy Don Avery is the lead investigator in the case.

Cole said he did not have any advice for drivers on how to stay safe while driving with their dogs.

“It’s hard because you can’t really strap them in or anything,” he said. “You see (accidents) all the time with them just jumping around.”

The Anson Fire Department and Madison Rescue also went to the scene.

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @rachel_ohm

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