A Houlton man is now without his tractor-trailer due to a possible mechanical defect that ended with the vehicle engulfed in flames.

According to the Maine State Police Facebook page, 57-year old William Estabrook, of Houlton, was hauling potatoes in his tractor-trailer truck on I-95, near mile marker 143, around 11:35 p.m. Thursday, when he heard popping sounds coming from the vehicle.

Estabrook told police that when he dismounted to investigate the sound, he noticed that his truck was on fire.

When State and Clinton Police, and fire departments from Clinton, Burham, and Pittsfield arrived on the scene, the truck was totally engulfed in flames and destroyed.

The interstate was shut down for about 45-minutes before one lane was opened.

Several responders were involved in the recovery or the wreckage and cleanup of the fire, to include Boulet's Truck Service, C&J Towing, and Central Maine Deposal.

Estabrook was not injured in the incident.

As of this morning, police reported that the one-lane shutdown was still in effect as recovery crews continued highway cleanup.

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