Only Minor Injuries After Car Wedged Under Tractor-Trailer

Middlebury Police and Fire Department responded to a car versus tractor-trailer accident on Whittemore Road (Route 188) and West Street at 7:32 a.m. Thursday that resulted in only minor injuries due to the quick reaction of one driver.

A tractor trailer operated by Christopher Campbell, 31, of Stillwater Road, Charlestown, RI, was backing the flatbed-style rig into the driveway of Middlebury Crossing when a 1999 Saturn SL2 heading eastbound on Whittemore Road struck the tractor trailer and got wedged underneath it.

The operator of the Saturn, Henry Haase, 20, of Triangle Blvd., Middlebury, was able to duck down and avoid serious injury. Haase was blinded by the sun and did not see the tractor-trailer backing up, according to police. Middlebury firefighters cut some roof posts of the Saturn and were able to extricate Haase from his vehicle.

Haase was transported to Waterbury Hospital via Middlebury Fire Department Ambulance with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the tractor-trailer unit was not injured.

The accident is under investigation by Officer Kathy Blick. No charges have been filed.