Officials say a Biddeford police sergeant died following a crash on the Piscataqua River Bridge early Thursday morning.
The crash happened on the Maine Turnpike on the Piscataqua River Bridge around 1:15 a.m.
Biddeford Police Chief JoAnne Fisk identified the officer as Biddeford Police Sgt. Jacob Wolterbeek of Portsmouth, New Hampshire .
He died in the crash while on his way home at the end of his shift.
Sgt. Wolterbeek was an 18-year veteran of the Biddeford Police Department and leaves behind a wife and three young children.
Chief Fisk says Sgt. Wolterbeek was a respected member of the Biddeford Police Department and a valued city employee.
“In this time of sorrow, our thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. Wolterbeek’s family, friends, and colleagues. We extend our deepest condolences and offer our full support to them during this difficult time. We ask the community to join us in honoring Sgt. Wolterbeek’s memory and service. City employees join the Biddeford Police Department as they mourn the end of watch for Sgt. Wolterbeek,” Chief Fisk said.
A procession was held in Maine on Thursday morning to honor Sgt. Wolterbeek. First responders gathered on overpasses along the Maine Turnpike from Ogunquit to Augusta. His body was taken to the Maine Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta.
Maine State Police say traffic had stopped on the Maine-New Hampshire border due to a crash that happened in New Hampshire.
According to troopers, a box truck was stopped due to traffic on the Maine side of the bridge when a Toyota Camry driven by Wolterbeek crashed into the rear of the box truck.
Wolterbeek died at the scene.
Southbound lanes on the Maine Turnpike were shut down for several hours on Thursday. The lanes have since reopened.
