Man Killed in Wrong-Way Crash on Maine Turnpike

A man who drove northbound in the southbound lanes of the Maine Turnpike in Kittery crashed into the side of a tractor-trailer and died early Thursday morning.

Maine state police officials said Caleb Ewing, 29, of Caribou allegedly got onto the wrong side of the highway around 12:35 a.m. and struck the side of the tractor trailer heading south at the Wilson Road overpass with a load of bottled water. The driver of the truck, Joshua Stone, 46, of Auburn took "evasive action" when he spotted Ewing but could not avoid him, according to police.

Ewing was declared dead at the scene of the crash while Stone was not injured, according to state police, who said both the truck and car suffered extensive damage.

Officials said the crash remained under investigation and it was not known if alcohol or speed played a role in the crash.

The impact ruptured the truck's fuel tank spilling diesel fuel onto the highway closing one lane for several hours for cleanup and a preliminary investigation.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH