Waterboro, ME (March 9, 2026) – A York County Sheriff’s deputy was injured on Friday afternoon, March 6, after a crash involving a patrol cruiser and a pickup truck on Main Street in Waterboro.
The collision occurred around 1:00 p.m. when Deputy Stephen Gould was driving a marked sheriff’s cruiser southbound on Main Street. Authorities said the cruiser rear-ended a 2015 Ford pickup driven by 44-year-old Matthew Cole of North Waterboro.
Officials reported that Cole had slowed to a stop while attempting to turn east onto Hamilton Road. Gould was unable to stop in time and struck the rear of the pickup.
Emergency units transported Gould to a local hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released later the same day. Cole was evaluated at the scene and did not require hospital transport.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and more details will be released as soon as they become available.
Our thoughts are with those injured as they recover.
Why Rear-End Crashes Lead to Injuries
Rear-end collisions happen when a vehicle slows or stops to make a turn, and the driver behind cannot react quickly enough. These crashes are common on busy local roads, where drivers may need to slow suddenly to enter side streets or driveways.
Reaction time and following distance play a major role in preventing these incidents. If a vehicle is traveling too closely behind another, there may not be enough space to stop when the lead vehicle brakes.
Vehicle weight and speed also influence how severe the impact can be. Even at moderate speeds, a rear-end collision can cause significant damage to both vehicles and lead to injuries for drivers or passengers.
Maintaining a safe following distance and remaining alert to traffic ahead can reduce the likelihood of rear-end collisions on local roadways.
