The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Driver Distraction Suspected in Fatal Naples Crash

December 21, 2009 - NAPLES -- The driver of a Time Warner truck that started a three-vehicle crash that killed a father of two from Gray on Tuesday may have been distracted, authorities said Wednesday.

The collision on Route 302 in Naples sent Shannon Ronan's westbound UPS van into the path of an eastbound tractor-trailer truck that was hauling propane.

Ronan, 44, was killed in the crash, which crumpled the front of the UPS van and badly damaged the propane truck. The other two drivers were not injured.

"You look at the damage, and this is something you would see on the interstate, where the speeds are higher," said Capt. Jeff Davis, head of patrol for the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office. The speed limit near the center of Naples, where the crash occurred, is 35 mph, he said.

The state police commercial vehicle enforcement unit and an accident reconstruction team from Windham are helping the sheriff's office investigate the crash.

Ronan apparently had stopped to turn left into Great Northern Docks, which is near the town's fire station, when the Time Warner truck crashed into the back of the delivery van.

"From witness accounts, he had his signal light on and the Time Warner truck failed to stop," Davis said. "I think there's some driver inattention involved, though we're early in the investigation."

The driver of the Time Warner truck was identified as Michael Hanrahan, 43. He has a clean driving record, according to the Secretary of State's Office.

Dewight Pickard, 54, was driving the propane truck for Pickard Transportation Inc.

Firefighters were shaken up by the crash because many of them in the small town knew Ronan and were friendly with him, Davis said.

Ronan was a 23-year employee, according to UPS, and worked out of the company's facility in Auburn.

"He was very much acknowledged and loved by his customers in the area as well as his fellow drivers," said Susan Rosenberg, a company spokeswoman in Atlanta.

Ronan leaves behind his wife, Lisa, his 12-year-old son, Cullen, and his 10-year-old daughter, Logan.

"His whole world was his wife and children," his obituary read. "He loved going to Patriots games with Cullen, going to daddy-daughter dances with Logan and loved watching his kids play sports."

Ronan graduated from Rumford High School in 1984. A memorial will be held for him Saturday at St. Gregory's Parish in Gray.

By DAVID HENCH, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, December 17, 2009


Lakes:
Regions: Sebago


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News