In a tragic dawn incident on I-95, a man from Kennebec County, identified as 55-year-old Matthew Galletta of Manchester, was struck and fatally injured by a pickup truck in Augusta, Maine, prompting an investigation into the circumstances that led to his untimely demise. According to News Center Maine, the accident occurred earlier today at roughly 5:20 a.m., near Mile Marker 111 on the southbound lane of the interstate, where Galletta was discovered standing.
Maine State Police reported that Galletta's vehicle was found parked on the highway's edge, yet details as to why he was out of his vehicle and standing in the right lane have yet to be clarified. The police are actively seeking to piece together this puzzle and, as quickly as possible, provide some measure of understanding. "An investigation is underway to determine why he was out of his vehicle and standing in the lane," said Shannon Moss, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson, in a statement obtained by News Center Maine.
Galletta was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the pickup truck, who has yet to be identified, sustained minor injuries from the incident, as reported by several outlets, including NECN and WGME. The Maine State Police have been thorough in their initial assessments and continue to probe the incident.
The authorities are reaching out to the public for assistance and have asked anyone who may have witnessed the accident to come forward and to contact Trooper Daniel Grenier at 207-624-7076, ext. 9. Maine State Police underscored the urgency of gathering witness accounts in hopes of shedding more light on this heartbreaking event and possibly helping to prevent future such tragedies on I-95, as indicated in a call to action shared by both WGME and NECN.
