A box truck carrying 7,000 pounds of live lobster overturned and spilled its cargo on Route 1 in Brunswick late Wednesday morning, backing up traffic for hours as crews cleaned up the mess.

The truck belonged to Cozy Harbor Seafood of Portland and was driven by 39-year-old Jose Albino-Horrach of South Portland.

Brunswick police told New Center Maine (WCSH/WLBZ-TV) that the truck probably hydroplaned sending the truck rolling down a steep embankment. Police told the television station that the truck was carrying 60-70 crates of live lobster.

Brunswick Police Cmdr. Tom Garrepy said Albino-Horrach had entered Route 1 northbound from Cook’s Corner after 11 a.m., “and then for some unknown reason at this point in the investigation, he drifted off onto the right shoulder, down the embankment and rolled the truck over.”

The cargo box was broken open and there were crates of lobster both inside the box and on the ground. Garrepy said the driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to Mid Coast Hospital for evaluation.

Police and firefighters helped lug the crates to the side of the road. Cozy Harbor Seafood sent another truck to retrieve the lobsters, which were no longer marketable because they were unrefrigerated for too long and exposed to fresh rainwater.

Garrepy didn’t anticipate any charges but the crash remains under investigation.


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