Valley courtesy results in car accident

FORT KENT - A common courtesy in the St. John Valley resulted in an automobile accident on Thursday in Fort Kent.

It is a common occurrence for drivers to slow down and stop in the road on major thoroughfares in order to allow pedestrians to cross the street or to allow another driver to pull onto the main road from a side street. This courtesy led to an expensive accident.

Allen Michaud of Frenchville, age 61, was driving a 2005 GMC pickup west on Main Street at about 12:20 p.m. Dennis Pelletier, 36, of St. John, was following Michaud in a 2004 Ford pick-up.

Fort Kent Police Chief Kenneth Michaud said that Allen Michaud was in front of Andy's Auto when he slowed down and "...stopped to let an eastbound vehicle make a left turn."

The driver of the truck following Michaud didn't notice the first truck had stopped. The police chief said, "The Pelletier vehicle bumped him in the rear."

The Ford pickup received $2000 in damage and police estimate the GMC truck received $1500 in damage.

There were no injuries.