Maine police detective killed while aiding motorist

Dan Glaun
MassLive.com, Springfield, Mass.

HAMPDEN, Maine — Maine State Police Detective and Easthampton native Ben Campbell was fatally wounded while helping a motorist on Interstate 95 Wednesday morning, Maine State Police said.

Campbell, a six-year veteran of the force, was assisting a driver whose vehicle spun out when a wheel came off of a passing tractor-trailer and struck him, causing fatal injuries, Maine State Pol. John Cote said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

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“This has been a tough day. It has been a tough day for the Campbell family, with the loss of Det. Ben Campbell,” Cote said, his voice shaking with emotion. “And it has been a tough day for our agency. We’ve lost one of our very best and we’ve certainly lost one of Maine’s very best.”

Campbell was traveling to a training on I-95 southbound when he came across a spun-out vehicle that was in the breakdown lane and partially obstructing a travel lane, Cote said. He had exited his vehicle to provide help when two wheels came off of a passing truck in a case of “bizarre” timing,” Cote said.

One wheel rolled into the median, while the other struck Campbell, causing fatal injuries.

Campbell, 31, grew up in Easthampton and was a graduate of Westfield State College, Cote said

He joined Maine State Police in 2012 as a trooper and was promoted to detective in 2016. He is survived by his wife and six-month-old son.

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