TOPSHAM
A chain-reaction crash on the Frank J. Wood Bridge between Topsham and Brunswick involving four vehicles was caused when a driver apparently got his shoelace caught on the pedal.
According to Topsham police, who responded to the crash at 3:49 p.m. on Wednesday, there were three vehicles stopped in traffic on what is known as the “Green Bridge” spanning the Androscoggin River — a 2006 Hyundai car driven by Rosanne M. Nelson of Brunswick first, followed by a 2007 Ford car driven by Holly A. Towe of Topsham; and a 2011 Honda sport utility vehicle driven by Mary- Catherine E. Dinsmore of Brunswick.
A 2009 Kia driven by 21- year-old Gerard R. Vachon of Lisbon Falls approached the line of vehicles from behind and attempted to brake, “but his shoelace got caught on the pedal” and prevented Vachon from applying the brakes, according to Sgt. Mark Gilliam’s report. The car driven by Vachon struck the SUV driven by Dinsmore, which in turn struck the car driven by Towe that then struck the Hyundai driven by Nelson.
Topsham Police Chief Christopher Lewis said only minor injuries resulted and no charges were filed.
The Kia was towed, the SUV sustained only functional damage, the Ford car minor damage and the Hyundai, which was last to be bumped, sustained no damage.
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