CHAIN OF PONDS TOWNSHIP — A Carthage man was killed when the fuel truck he was driving collided Monday morning with an empty tractor-trailer on Route 27, about 10 minutes south of the Canadian border, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

Gregory Hutchinson, 51, was killed instantly, according to county Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr.

Hutchinson was driving an International fuel truck belonging to Dead River Company, Nichols wrote in an email. Simultaneously an empty, 2010 Peterbilt tractor-trailer owned by Nicols Bros Trucking of Mexico was traveling south driven by Jeffrey Lang, 70, of Rumford. 

Lang received minor injuries, according to Rangeley Fire Rescue Chief Tim Pellerin.

It has been snowing in the area as the trucks approached each other on a curve. The trailer lost traction and jackknifed, according to Nichols, and slid into the path of the northbound fuel truck, killing the operator instantly. 

Deputy Andrew Morgan is the primary investigator.

The fuel truck was loaded with 2,000 gallons oil and 800 gallons of kerosene which leaked from the tank. There was no fire.

Deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff Office responded to the initial report of the accident at 9:27 a.m.  

The first call was made via radio by a trucker who came upon the scene, he said.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents were first on the scene. Maine Department of Environmental Protection was responding also.

Eustis and Rangeley fire rescue departments also responded, as well as Lt. David Rackliffe, Deputy Brian McCormick and Deputy Andrew Morgan. Maine State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement and reconstruction units were also responding. Franklin County Emergency Management Agency Director Tim Hardy responded to the scene to assist with a satellite phone because of the lack of connectivity in that region.

Hutchinson is a graduate of Dirigo High School in Dixfield, according to his Facebook page. 

A Dead River fuel truck lies on Route 27 in Chain of Ponds Township after a collision with a tractor-trailer truck Monday morning. Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. said 51-year-old Gregory Hutchinson of Carthage was killed instantly in the fuel truck. The tractor-trailer driver was identified as 70-year-old Jeffrey Lang of Rumford. (Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)

A tractor-trailer driven by Jeffrey Lang, 70, of Rumford lies beside Route 27 in Chain of Ponds Township after a collision with a Dead River fuel truck Monday morning. The fuel truck driver, 51-year-old Gregory Hutchinson of Carthage, was killed instantly, Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. said in a news release. (Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Photo)