An off-duty police officer was killed in a crash on a bridge connecting New Hampshire and Maine early Thursday morning, authorities said.
Police responding to a report of a two-vehicle crash on the south side of the Main Turnpike at the high rise of the Piscataqua River Bridge around 1 a.m. learned that a Toyota Camry had rear-ended a truck, according to the Maine Department of Public Works. Safety spokesperson, Shannon Moss.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the box truck was parked in traffic on the Maine side of the bridge when the Camry, driven by 44-year-old Jacob Wolterbeek of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, crashed into it, Moss said.
Wolterbeek was pronounced dead at the scene.
JoAnne Fisk, police chief in Biddeford, Maine, said Wolterbeek was an 18-year veteran of the Biddeford Police Department.
Wolterbeek was on his way home from a shift when the accident happened, according to Fisk. He is survived by his wife and three young children.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Biddeford Police Sergeant Jacob Wolterbeek in a tragic accident on his way home from his shift. Sergeant Wolterbeek was an 18-year veteran of the Biddeford Police Department,” Fisk said in a statement. “During this time of grief, our thoughts and prayers go out to Sergeant Wolterbeek’s family, friends, and colleagues. We offer our deepest condolences and full support during this difficult time.”
The southbound lanes of the bridge were closed for several hours after Wolterbeek’s death.
The accident is still under investigation.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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