Helicopter Lands on Maine Highway After 30-Vehicle Crash Caused by 'Blinding' Sunlight

About 30 vehicles were involved in a “chain-reaction crash” on a highway in Carmel, Maine, on Tuesday, January 7, Maine State Police said.

Police said “blinding sun” may have caused the initial crash that then prompted additional collisions. Police said there were “some injuries,” including a person who was “seriously” injured and taken to a Bangor hospital via a LifeFlight helicopter that landed on the interstate.

Officials at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center told local media they expected to take in nine to 13 patients from the crash.

Reports said “hundreds” of motorists were stranded on northbound Interstate 95 because of the crash, which happened at about 7.45 am

One of those affected drivers was Amy Jordan, who said she was heading to work in Bangor. Jordan said “the sun was absolutely blinding” along I-95 on Tuesday morning, adding that glare from the wet road reduced visibility even more.

“I could barely see the car in front of me and almost got hit from behind,” Jordan told Storyful.

This video, taken by Jordan, shows a helicopter flying above the crash area and eventually landing on the interstate. Jordan said traffic was at “a complete standstill” for about two hours.

“A team of troopers and a fleet of wreckers are on scene to clear the road of the wrecked vehicles and the northbound side is expected to remain closed until – at least – noon,” Maine State Police said. Credit: Amy Jordan via Storyful