NORTH ANDOVER — Two drivers suffered life-threatening injuries in a near head-on collision that tied up traffic on Route 114 in both directions for about 90 minutes last night.
Timothy Vanwey, 62, of 30 Ocean Ave., Salem, and Sean Foley, 37, of 6 Varnum St., Haverhill, were both flown by medical helicopter to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston after initially being rushed from the crash scene by ambulance to Lawrence General Hospital. They were listed in critical condition.
Police responded to the crash at 6:08 p.m. on Route 114, across from the intersection at Sullivan Street, less than two miles from the Middleton town line.
"It was pretty close to being a direct head-on (collision)," North Andover police Sgt. John Pickard said last night.
Police said Foley was headed west in green 1994 Ford pickup truck when a 2002 Toyota Camry, driven by Vanwey, struck the pickup truck at the entrance of TSD at 1620 Turnpike.
"Did he veer into path of the pickup or did he make a left-hand turn (into TSD)? Detective Dan Cronin of the accident reconstruction team is still investigating the crash," Sgt. Pickard said.
"One witness traveling behind the pickup truck said the pickup was traveling the speed limit, which is 45 mph. The next thing he knows, he saw the Camry cross over into the passing lane, making contact with the pickup," he said.
North Andover firefighters had to use a hydraulic device to free both men from the wreckage. The vehicles were extensively damaged, blocking travel in the westbound lane.
Aside from several cars making U-turns to discontinue traveling toward the crash site, traffic was at a standstill in both directions for more than an hour last night.
"The traffic was backed up a good mile in each direction," Sgt. Pickard said.
"It was pretty heavy traffic. We were working one lane at a time until we were able to get both lanes going again. MassHighway came out with the sign boards. It was serious enough that we called in our accident reconstruction team," he said.
Trombly Brothers towing had the wreckage cleared from the roadway by 8:15 p.m., about two hours after the crash.
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