Driver Falls Asleep in Madawaska Lake Crash

State Police say a 67-year-old man escaped injury Monday afternoon when he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed his pickup in the town of Madawaska Lake.

Trooper Adam Stoutamyer responded to the single-vehicle crash on Rt. 161 at the Lakeshore Drive intersection. According to Maine State Police, Stanley Pelletier of St. Francis was driving north around 3 p.m. when his 2012 Ford pickup drifted off the side of the roadway after crossing the oncoming travel lane.

The truck went into the ditch area, jumped over the end of Lake Shore Drive, and continued into the woods, striking several trees along the way, police said. The vehicle eventually came to a stop after striking a larger tree about 75 feet into the woods.

Pelletier told police that he was uninjured. State Police said the pickup sustained substantial damage in the crash.