The season’s first major snowstorm created treacherous driving conditions across Maine and resulted in two fatal car accidents in different parts of the state on Monday.

A Gorham man died when the sport utility vehicle his wife was driving slid into the path of a dump truck on Narragansett Street in Gorham.

Joseph Piawlock, 45, was killed in the crash. His wife, two daughters, and a third girl were injured. They were being treated for their injuries Monday night at Maine Medical Center.

In the second fatal accident, a Hampden man died early Monday in New Portland after his pickup truck veered off a curve on Bog Road. The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office said the truck, driven by 21-year-old Connor Graham, hit a tree. Graham was pinned to the steering wheel.

Chris Kimble, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, said the heaviest snow accumulations were reported inland, and that lesser amounts fell along the coast.

The town of Kingfield in Franklin County received 8.5 inches of snow, while with Turner and Auburn in Androscoggin County got 7.5 inches and 6.5 inches, respectively.

Advertisement

A mere 4 inches was reported at the Portland International Jetport. Scarborough in Cumberland County got 3.5 inches while Ogunquit in York County was dusted with 2 inches.

Bridgton got 6 inches of snow, North Windham received 5.7 inches, Westbrook 4.9 inches, and Cumberland 4.3 inches, according to observations reported to the weather service by volunteer spotters.

Most schools in southern Maine were closed Monday, while state offices opened at 10 a.m. and closed at 4 p.m.

Maine State Police reported dozens of accidents caused by snowy conditions. There were crashes early Monday on the Maine Turnpike in West Gardiner, Saco, South Portland, Biddeford and Portland, according to the Maine Turnpike Authority. The speed limit was reduced to 45 mph for the entire length of the turnpike.

None of the crashes on the turnpike caused major traffic delays, said Erin Courtney, a spokeswoman for the Maine Turnpike Authority.

Ted Talbot, spokesman for the Maine Department of Transportation, said crews started treating roads at 10 p.m. Sunday. Because it was mainly an all-snow event, trucks did not need to pre-treat the roads.

Advertisement

“At the peak of this, we should have, from Kittery up to The County, about 350 trucks out today,” Talbot said Monday.

Talbot said the roads were especially slick early in the morning, but delays and cancellations helped keep traffic light while trucks cleared the roads.

“The good news is it’s a light and fluffy snow and it didn’t really stick to the roadways and vehicles,” he said.

Multiple Meals on Wheels programs were closed Monday. Recipients in Androscoggin, Knox, Franklin and Oxford counties were encouraged to use their storm packs Monday.

Kimble said the remainder of the week will be sunny but extremely cold, conditions caused by a blast of Arctic air.

“It starts to get real cold on Thursday with temperatures in the low 20s,” Kimble said. Temperatures are expected to drop into the low teens on Friday.

Portland did not enforce a parking ban Monday, but city officials encourage residents in the future to view parking ban alerts on the city of Portland’s website at portlandmaine.gov. The city has several options during a snowstorm. It can call a citywide parking ban, a peninsula ban, or a yellow zone ban that applies only to the downtown district.

Drivers may also call the city’s parking ban hotline at 879-0300 for more information. For customer service complaints regarding winter operations, residents should call 874-8493. People with sidewalk plowing concerns can call 874-8793. All vehicles left on the street during a snow parking ban will be towed at the owner’s expense.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.