Charges follow I-95 construction-zone crash
A 22-year-old Laconia man is facing criminal charges in Maine after investigators linked him to an Oct. 14 crash in an Interstate 95 construction zone that seriously injured a Maine Department of Transportation worker.
Jonathan McDonald is accused of driving the pickup truck involved in the incident in Pittsfield, Maine. The crash occurred in the northbound lanes, where construction activity had narrowed traffic to a single lane, according to Maine State Police.
McDonald faces three charges: accidents involving death or personal injury, a Class D offense; driving to endanger, a Class E offense; and accident reports, also a Class E offense. The allegations have not been adjudicated in court.
| Charge | Classification |
|---|---|
| Accidents involving death or personal injury | Class D |
| Driving to endanger | Class E |
| Accident reports | Class E |
In Maine, a Class D or Class E crime carries a maximum sentence of less than one year, according to the information provided about the charges. The source material did not include a court date, an attorney for McDonald or additional details about the status of the case.
Worker struck by construction barrel
Investigators say the incident happened shortly after 8 a.m. in the northbound construction area. A pickup truck towing a black dump trailer allegedly hit a concrete Jersey barrier. The impact caused a construction barrel to move into the work area and strike Richard Smart, a 56-year-old Maine DOT worker from Westfield.
Smart suffered injuries described as serious but not life-threatening. He was taken to Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital for treatment and has since been released, according to the information released about the crash.
The account does not indicate that any other person was injured. It also does not provide an estimate of the damage to the truck, trailer, barrier or other highway equipment. The lane reduction and the presence of workers and traffic-control devices were part of the active construction setup when the crash occurred.
Public tips helped identify suspected driver
Maine State Police released an image of the pickup and trailer believed to be connected to the incident. Residents who recognized the vehicle or had information about the crash contacted investigators, police said.
Those tips helped authorities identify McDonald as the alleged driver, according to state police. The department thanked members of the public who provided information while emphasizing that the investigation remains ongoing.
The police effort illustrates the importance investigators placed on identifying the vehicle after the worker was struck. The released image showed the pickup and the black dump trailer, giving residents a way to compare what they had seen with the vehicle sought by police.
What is known about the incident
- Date: Oct. 14, 2026.
- Location: Northbound I-95 in Pittsfield, Maine.
- Road conditions: Construction had reduced traffic to one lane.
- Injured worker: Richard Smart, 56, of Westfield.
- Suspect: Jonathan McDonald, 22, of Laconia, New Hampshire.
For drivers, the crash underscores the hazards created when highway lanes are shifted or narrowed around construction crews. In this case, a collision with a barrier set off a chain of events that sent a barrel into a worker. The available information does not say whether weather, speed, distraction or another factor contributed to the truck striking the barrier.
The charges are based on the police investigation and represent allegations. More information could emerge as the case proceeds, including court filings or additional investigative findings. Maine State Police have not provided, in the available account, a detailed explanation of the specific conduct alleged under each charge.
Smart's release from the hospital means the injuries were not described as life-threatening, but police characterized them as serious. The incident remains a reminder that construction zones remain active work areas even when traffic is moving through them, with workers positioned close to travel lanes and protective equipment placed between vehicles and crews.
