A crash on the Maine Turnpike in Scarborough sent a 30-year-old Lewiston man to the hospital with serious injuries and caused miles of traffic delays midday Thursday, Maine State Police said.

According to state police, the tractor-trailer was changing lanes near mile 40 in Scarborough when a late-model Ford Focus slammed into the back of the rig about 12:30 p.m.

The truck’s driver, 39-year-old Jesus Benitez of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was uninjured.

The driver of the sedan, Erik James, suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Maine Medical Center in Portland to undergo emergency surgery.

The crash took place in the southbound lanes about 12:30 p.m., and caused significant traffic delays for roughly two hours. By 3 p.m. all lanes had reopened.

Troopers will determine whether to issue any citations after they can speak with the driver of the Focus.


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