A parked state police cruiser was heavily damaged Friday morning after being struck on the Maine Turnpike in Wells, officials said.
State Troopers were investigating a crash where a vehicle had slid onto the highway median, according to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon. The driver of that vehicle was not injured.
Three troopers were parked with emergency lights on to divert traffic away from the median, according to Moss.
Trooper Christopher Caldeira was sitting in his marked blue 2020 Ford Explorer when it was hit from behind by a 2023 Mercedes Benz sedan, allegedly operated by Priscilla Eydra Kifayatullah, 31, of Germantown, Wisconsin, according to Moss.
“The crash caused significant damage to both vehicles,” Moss said. “Both Kifayatullah and Trooper Caldeira were transported to York Hospital for evaluation of possible minor injuries.”
Moss added that “traffic was significantly backed up because only one lane was open for travel for approximately one hour.”
The scene has since been cleared and traffic is back to normal.
The crash is under investigation, but officials are urging motorists to heed Maine’s “Move Over” law, which was expanded in 2023 to encourage drivers to move over or slow down whenever there is a disabled vehicle in the breakdown lane.
“Drivers are required to move into the adjacent lane when it is safe to do so, or slow down and proceed with caution if a lane change is not possible,” Moss said.