Lobster Truck Wreck Closes One Lane Of I-95

State Police say one lane of Interstate 95 in Benton will be closed for the day (March 18) after a tractor trailer went off the road early this morning. The truck is loaded with 30,000 pounds of live lobsters from Nova Scotia and a crane will be needed to upright the truck and inspect the cargo.  According to Maine Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland, the passing lane of the southbound lanes is closed. The wreck took place along the straight stretch known as the Benton Flats at mile 135, McCausland said.

The driver, Horst Puff of Greenfield, Nova Scotia, said he swerved to avoid striking a car that had spun out in front of him. The truck ended up on its side in the median. The driver was not injured. In addition to one lane being closed, the entire southbound side will be closed for a time during the day to allow equipment to upright the truck and remove the cargo.

McCausland also had no information on one important question. "It is not clear the fate of the lobsters," he said.