By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — The shock and sorrow of losing a loved one, a community member, in a traffic accident at a dangerous intersection was a strong presence at Tuesday night’s public hearing for Pike’s Corner.

The death of a motorcyclist and Poland resident, Robert Hollingshead Jr., at Pike’s Corner happened less than two weeks ago.

When Hollingshead’s niece spoke at the public hearing, it really hit home the need for a solution at a confusing intersection, where a major trucking and commuting route crosses with a road that travels through the village.

She demanded that a stoplight signal system replace the orange blinking lights at the intersection.

The hearing, which was held during the Casco Board of Selectmen’s meeting, filled the seats, left people standing against the walls, and garnered the attention of the WMTW Channel 8 news crews.

Many people in Casco already feel like the state’s solution for Pike’s Corner (a four-way stop) won’t work and a traffic signal is the only assurance that drivers will know what to do when they come to the intersection.

Misti Oliveira, the niece of Robert Hollingshead Jr., who died at the intersection of Route 121 and Route 11 on June 26, introduced herself and spoke for the family.

“We do not believe that a four-way stop is sufficient. We feel that one of the major problems is people running the blinking red light that is already there and causing a lot of these accidents,”   Oliveira said.

“We propose a stop light system to be put in place immediately to prevent other families from going through what we are going through,” she said.

Her testimony began with a plea mostly to the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT), which has based its recommendation of a four-way stop on the low volume of vehicles in this area.

“DOT, we know you are very statistical, basing your decision on the amount of traffic at this intersection,” Oliveira said. “You say there isn’t enough traffic to warrant a stop light but our question to you is: ‘How much death and injury warrants a stop light?’ ”

“As of 2003, there has been 61 crashes, 48 injuries and one fatality, my uncle,” Oliveira said, citing statistic on the MDOT website.

The way that Pike’s Corner is set up now: Route 11 has the right-of-way and Route 121 traffic must stop. Signs on Route 121 warn drivers that Route 11 traffic does not stop.

According to police reports, Hollingshead was traveling the speed limit on Route 11, and was hit by a truck traveling on Route 121 that stopped and then continued. The accident happened around 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26.

The driver of the truck that struck Hollingshead acted as though the intersection was a four-way stop, instead of yielding to Route 11 traffic.

When she had the floor, Oliveira took the selectmen and the state to task for not resolving this sooner.

There was a domino effect of responses.

First, Selectman Mary Fernandes offered her condolences for the family’s loss. Then, Fernandes explained that a traffic signal was not on the table. The proposal was a four-way stop. She also questioned the statistics that were cited by Oliveira, but after hearing them for a second time Fernandes agreed they were probably correct.

“MDOT, in a letter dated September 2017, said that according to federal standards that junction does not meet [the requirements] for a full stop light,” Fernandes said.

“We had many meetings on this intersection. We had this on agenda a couple weeks ago and no one showed up,” she said.

“We have done some things,’ Fernandes said, citing contacting state representatives, “adding flashing lights, painting white stripes and clearing brush to help with line-of-sight.”

Oliveira said, “I am not saying you haven’t done things.”

Later, after a few more people spoke, a resident accused Fernandes of lacking compassion. 

Casco resident Dave Gerry said, “Mary was disrespectful to the family that spoke. I am not happy with how it started out. You should have started out with what is being proposed.”

Chairman Holly Hancock said, “Part of this is to hear what people say and allow the folks to speak.”

Gerry went on to mention the vehicle accident that happened in 2017 and involved a trooper’s cruiser traveling at a high speed.

Speeding makes the intersection even more dangerous; and many residents recommended reducing speed limits and putting a deputy to task writing speeding tickets. However, a staff shortage at Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) makes this a tough request.

Residents who live near Pike’s Corner said they frequently hear the screech of tires coming to a stop and the sound of metal crushing followed by the sound of sirens from Casco Fire and Rescue Department. They hear it too often, they said.

One woman who was not a resident said that getting in an accident, even at lower speeds, can be a life-changing experience for a person. She had researched many ways to address dangerous intersections: LED lights around warning signs, reduced speeds, an intense speeding ticket campaign, and the round-a-bout.   

Casco resident Erika Poullin spoke from experience

“Almost a year ago, I had an accident at Pike’s Corner. I was driving the speed limit. I was crossing Route 121. A truck ran the stop sign; she openly admitted she ran the stop sign. I hit my brakes and I still hit her and it flipped her truck over,” Poullin said. “She was not from town so she didn’t know the intersection really well.”

“I am fortunate that myself, my son, my son’s friends and my dog are all okay,” Poullin said.

“Something needs to be changed. The speed limits need to be reduced. Something needs to change,” she said.