By Nick Sambides Jr.
Bangor Daily News (Maine)
Copyright 2007 Bangor Daily News
SPRINGFIELD, Maine — State police are reviewing the information they gathered in their investigation into a firetruck accident that killed a volunteer firefighter on his way to a burning sawmill in Prentiss last month. Police hope to share the results of their probe with town officials in three or four weeks, they said Wednesday.
Trooper Jarod Stedman and a state police accident reconstruction team have basically completed their investigation into the death of volunteer firefighter Peter Beebe-Lawson, 50, of Springfield, said Sgt. Mark Brooks, a patrol supervisor.
Brooks, his supervisor, Lt. Wesley Hussey, state police Traffic Division supervisors, and the Penobscot County District Attorney's Office will review the information, Brooks said. Once that happens, investigators will meet with town officials and Springfield Fire Chief John Krapf to discuss the report before releasing it.
"Trooper Stedman and I have already met with them [town officials and firefighters] and in the end, they wanted us to come back and brief them," Brooks said Wednesday. "They have been very open with us and interested in learning from this."
Brooks declined to reveal the report's conclusions, but hinted that it might result in changes to volunteer firefighter training and fire scene command-and-control requirements in Springfield, if not elsewhere in the state.
Investigators do not expect criminal charges or citations in connection with the accident, but the District Attorney's Office makes the final decision on that, Brooks said.
Beebe-Lawson was coming out of a sharp curve on Route 169 on his way back to a fire at Cole's Shingle Mill on Mud Pond Road in Prentiss when he apparently lost control of the 3,500-gallon Freightliner tanker truck at about 11:45 a.m. on May 7. The tanker went off the right side of the road before veering into pine trees on the road's left side.
The tanker absorbed heavy front-end and roof damage and landed on its passenger side. Beebe-Lawson, the truck's sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene. The body was taken to Clay's Funeral Home in Lincoln.
Witnesses said Beebe-Lawson had already been to the Prentiss sawmill fire and was returning to the scene on his own initiative, with equipment he thought was needed, when the accident occurred.
Some firefighters reportedly questioned whether the tanker truck was needed at the scene, whether Beebe-Lawson was experienced enough to drive it, and whether the truck carried enough water to be stable on the sharply curving and humped roads.
Krapf said he looked forward to meeting with investigators. He declined to comment on the accident or any conclusions his department might have drawn.
"We just have to wait and see what happens," Krapf said Wednesday. "We don't know anything until the police report comes back."
More than 100 firefighters and residents attended Beebe-Lawson's funeral May 9, with firefighters giving him full honors.
