Dog Apparently Caused Fatal Crash in Unity Township

UNITY TOWNSHIP, Maine (AP) — Police say a dog that apparently jumped into the lap of a driver caused a fatal head-on crash in Unity Township earlier this week.

Gracey Stinson, morgueFile

Kennebec County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Ryan Reardon says a pickup truck driven by 29-year-old Tyler Brackett of Unity was headed west on Route 139 on Monday afternoon when his dog hopped in his lap, causing him to jerk his steering wheel and cross into the eastbound lane.

Reardon tells the Kennebec Journal the truck collided with a car driven by 59-year-old Donna Jackson of Waterville. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Brackett and Jackson's two passengers were hospitalized, but are expected to recover. The dog was uninjured.

The crash remains under investigation and no charges have been filed.