A member of the Biddeford Police Department was killed in an early Thursday morning crash on the Piscataqua River Bridge between Kittery and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Sgt. Jacob Wolterbeek was driving home to Portsmouth at the end of his shift, according to a statement from Biddeford Police Chief Joanne Fisk.
Traffic was stopped at the state border due to a crash that happened in New Hampshire, according to a news release from the Maine Department of Public Safety. A box truck had been stopped in traffic on the Maine side.
A Toyota Camry driven by Wolterbeek struck the rear of that truck.
Maine State Police learned of the crash at about 1:15 a.m.
“Wolterbeek was pronounced deceased on scene,” the release stated. “Southbound lanes were shut down for several hours. The crash remains under investigation.”
Fisk said Wolterbeek was an 18-year veteran of the department.
“Sergeant Wolterbeek was a respected member of the Biddeford Police Department and a valued City employee,” Fisk wrote. “In this time of sorrow, our thoughts and prayers are with Sergeant Wolterbeek’s family, friends, and colleagues. We extend our deepest condolences and offer our full support to them during this difficult time.”
Wolterbeek is survived by a wife and three children.