ROCKPORT — The Rockville stretch of Route 17 just west of Chickawaukie Pond was the scene of yet another vehicular crash May 15, as a driver apparently pulled in front of a Mack truck, according to witnesses.

The crash occurred near the intersection of Old Rockland Street just after 12 p.m. when a Mack truck owned by Monroe Construction, of Hope, collided with a Hyundai Santa Fe. 

According to witnesses, both vehicles were heading east on Route 17 toward Rockland. The truck was behind the SUV at a distance when the driver of the 2008 Santa Fe pulled a U-turn in the highway.

Rockport Police Chief Mark Kelley said that Susan Murphy, of Tenants Harbor, confirmed that she had pulled into the breakdown lane and then abruptly made a U-turn in front of John Monroe, who was driving the 1997 Mack dump truck.

Monroe braked hard and tried to turn away in an attempt to avoid hitting the SUV but ended up colliding with that vehicle’s driver’s side. 

“Monroe had no other course of action other than to strike the car,” said Kelley.

North East Mobile Health Services responded and transported the driver of the Santa Fe to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport. She was awake and talking as she was being treated at the scene, witnesses said.

Rockport Fire Department and Rockport police responded to the crash, cleaning up the highway of debris. Camden Exxon towed the SUV back to Camden while All Directions towed Monroe’s truck back to Hope.

There were no charges filed. Kelley attributed the crash to driver inattention on the part of Murphy.

On May 9, two crashes occurred just nearby the May 15 crash.  Rockport highway crash spawns second crash