New Sharon man dies after he was struck by truck

Reported by the Bangor Daily News on Septemeber 22, 2010

NEW SHARON — An elderly man was killed Tuesday morning as he crossed Route 134 in front of his house, police said.

Glen Fitch, 87, was killed instantly when he was struck by a pickup truck driven by 43-year-old Walter Fails of New Sharon.

Trooper Sam Tlumac said Fitch, who lived alone, had put his recyclables out to the curb and then walked across Route 134 shortly before 7:30 a.m. Tlumac saidsas Fitch was returning to his house, he apparently saw the oncoming truck and turned back, but was struck in the road. He was thrown onto the hood of the truck.

Fails was not hurt. He was returning home from working as a corrections officer at the Somerset County Jail, according to a statement from Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland. Fails is also a part-time deputy with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

A team of six troopers investigated the crash. The cause had not been determined. Two possible causes were a mistake on Fitch’s part and glare from the morning sun, McCausland said.

Fitch served for nearly 40 years as a town ballot clerk, Town Clerk Rose Mary Eller said Tuesday. He didn’t do it the past couple of years because he didn’t feel he could hear well enough, Eller said.

Based on this report, it is evident that further investigation of this accident will be necessary to determine who was at fault. As in all cases with a fatality, the Maine State Police will conduct an accident reconstruction. However, further study of the evidence may be necessary. It is important that the investigation take place as soon as possible before potentially critical evidence is destroyed by time. The auto accident specialists at Peter Thompson & Associates have handled thousands of similar claims and recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. We specialize in providing excellent customer service and quick results. For more information, contact Peter Thompson & Associates at 1-800-917-1784 or read more on our website www.Peter-Thompson-Associates.com on our car accident practice page.