Below is the Facebook post written by the motorist (R.J.A.) he stopped to help.
Dear Detective Ben Campbell.
Today, I lost control of my car and did a 180 on I-95 South. I was shaken up, but otherwise fine. I called 911 and requested help in getting turned around on the busy highway.
You stopped to help me. You took my ID as per the standard. You came back to return it. You wore one of the warmest smiles I've ever seen. A smile that, without words, could give the world a moment of peace were it to look upon. I honestly felt safer in that moment as you stood by my drivers side window.
That changed. In a split second, I saw your smile turn to the breifest shade of concern as a logging semi came over the hill, before a tire came into my peripheral vision.
I blacked out. My first and only thought upon waking up was "I've died, haven't I?" I couldn't see anything but bright white light. Then my ears began ringing. I was able to open my eyes. My glasses partly crushed as I lifted my head before they fell off. My airbag had deployed. You weren't beside me anymore...
I stumbled out of my car, moving to the other side of the gaurd rail to avoid anything else hitting me.
That's when I saw you. Two tires had fallen off the truck. One struck my car, the other struck you.
Out of breath and still dizzy, I came to your side, pleeding for you to wake up. You responded with a sound so haunting, I don't dare describe it out of respect.
My mind raced. It had been years since I had any formal CPR training, and I was afraid that if I touched you without knowing just how bad you might be hurt, I'd just make it worse. I began waving and jumping up and down at oncoming traffic, desperately trying to get others to stop and help.
I leaned over you as another trooper and the driver of the semi came to help.
I looked into your eyes
You looked back
And then... You were gone...
The news reports you died in the hospital, but I knew in that moment, it was over...
I should have died twice today. I survived a high-speed spinout. When death came for me a second time, you were there. You traded your life for mine in the line of duty.
I vow for as long as I live, I will never forget your smile. I will never forget your kindness. I will never forget your sacrifice.
I owe you a debt I don't think I can repay.
Rest in peace. May your soul find tranquility.
A Maine State Police Detective Ben Campbell, was struck and killed Wednesday morning on Interstate 95 in Hampden in what Col. John Cote called a "bizarre" accident.
On April 3, 2019 Ben Campbell was outside his cruiser at the site of a disabled vehicle south of the Coldbrook Road overpass at about 7:30 a.m. when he was struck by a tire that had separated from the wheel of a logging truck, Cote said Wednesday afternoon at a press conference in Bangor.
Headed to a training assignment in Augusta where he was scheduled to be the instructor, Campbell had pulled to the side of the road to assist a car that had spun off the southbound lanes and was pointed north during Wednesday morning's snowfall. As a logging truck approached the scene, two tires separated from the front axle on the trailer. One rolled into the median between the northbound and southbound lanes while the other struck Campbell, then the vehicle he was assisting.
Campbell, 31, lived in Millinocket with his wife, Hilary, and a six-month-old son, Everett, according to Cote. He was a detective with the polygraph unit.
Campbell was taken to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he died, Cote said.
Funeral service will be held in Portland at Cross Insurance Arena at 11am on Tuesday April 9. Once family members arrive from Massachusetts, where Campbell grew up, his body will be taken to the Maine Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy, which is standard procedure, Cote said. It will be escorted to Augusta by troopers in a caravan.
Detective Campbell had served with the Maine State Police for six and a half years .
He was promoted to Detective in 2017 and was assigned to the Polygraph Unit.
He is survived by his wife, Hilary, and 6-month-old son, Everett.
Dear Detective Ben Campbell.
Today, I lost control of my car and did a 180 on I-95 South. I was shaken up, but otherwise fine. I called 911 and requested help in getting turned around on the busy highway.
You stopped to help me. You took my ID as per the standard. You came back to return it. You wore one of the warmest smiles I've ever seen. A smile that, without words, could give the world a moment of peace were it to look upon. I honestly felt safer in that moment as you stood by my drivers side window.
That changed. In a split second, I saw your smile turn to the breifest shade of concern as a logging semi came over the hill, before a tire came into my peripheral vision.
I blacked out. My first and only thought upon waking up was "I've died, haven't I?" I couldn't see anything but bright white light. Then my ears began ringing. I was able to open my eyes. My glasses partly crushed as I lifted my head before they fell off. My airbag had deployed. You weren't beside me anymore...
I stumbled out of my car, moving to the other side of the gaurd rail to avoid anything else hitting me.
That's when I saw you. Two tires had fallen off the truck. One struck my car, the other struck you.
Out of breath and still dizzy, I came to your side, pleeding for you to wake up. You responded with a sound so haunting, I don't dare describe it out of respect.
My mind raced. It had been years since I had any formal CPR training, and I was afraid that if I touched you without knowing just how bad you might be hurt, I'd just make it worse. I began waving and jumping up and down at oncoming traffic, desperately trying to get others to stop and help.
I leaned over you as another trooper and the driver of the semi came to help.
I looked into your eyes
You looked back
And then... You were gone...
The news reports you died in the hospital, but I knew in that moment, it was over...
I should have died twice today. I survived a high-speed spinout. When death came for me a second time, you were there. You traded your life for mine in the line of duty.
I vow for as long as I live, I will never forget your smile. I will never forget your kindness. I will never forget your sacrifice.
I owe you a debt I don't think I can repay.
Rest in peace. May your soul find tranquility.
A Maine State Police Detective Ben Campbell, was struck and killed Wednesday morning on Interstate 95 in Hampden in what Col. John Cote called a "bizarre" accident.
On April 3, 2019 Ben Campbell was outside his cruiser at the site of a disabled vehicle south of the Coldbrook Road overpass at about 7:30 a.m. when he was struck by a tire that had separated from the wheel of a logging truck, Cote said Wednesday afternoon at a press conference in Bangor.
Headed to a training assignment in Augusta where he was scheduled to be the instructor, Campbell had pulled to the side of the road to assist a car that had spun off the southbound lanes and was pointed north during Wednesday morning's snowfall. As a logging truck approached the scene, two tires separated from the front axle on the trailer. One rolled into the median between the northbound and southbound lanes while the other struck Campbell, then the vehicle he was assisting.
Campbell, 31, lived in Millinocket with his wife, Hilary, and a six-month-old son, Everett, according to Cote. He was a detective with the polygraph unit.
Campbell was taken to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he died, Cote said.
Funeral service will be held in Portland at Cross Insurance Arena at 11am on Tuesday April 9. Once family members arrive from Massachusetts, where Campbell grew up, his body will be taken to the Maine Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy, which is standard procedure, Cote said. It will be escorted to Augusta by troopers in a caravan.
Detective Campbell had served with the Maine State Police for six and a half years .
He was promoted to Detective in 2017 and was assigned to the Polygraph Unit.
He is survived by his wife, Hilary, and 6-month-old son, Everett.
Below is the Facebook post written by the motorist (R.J.A.) he stopped to help.
Dear Detective Ben Campbell.
Today, I lost control of my car and did a 180 on I-95 South. I was shaken up, but otherwise fine. I called 911 and requested help in getting turned around on the busy highway.
You stopped to help me. You took my ID as per the standard. You came back to return it. You wore one of the warmest smiles I've ever seen. A smile that, without words, could give the world a moment of peace were it to look upon. I honestly felt safer in that moment as you stood by my drivers side window.
That changed. In a split second, I saw your smile turn to the breifest shade of concern as a logging semi came over the hill, before a tire came into my peripheral vision.
I blacked out. My first and only thought upon waking up was "I've died, haven't I?" I couldn't see anything but bright white light. Then my ears began ringing. I was able to open my eyes. My glasses partly crushed as I lifted my head before they fell off. My airbag had deployed. You weren't beside me anymore...
I stumbled out of my car, moving to the other side of the gaurd rail to avoid anything else hitting me.
That's when I saw you. Two tires had fallen off the truck. One struck my car, the other struck you.
Out of breath and still dizzy, I came to your side, pleeding for you to wake up. You responded with a sound so haunting, I don't dare describe it out of respect.
My mind raced. It had been years since I had any formal CPR training, and I was afraid that if I touched you without knowing just how bad you might be hurt, I'd just make it worse. I began waving and jumping up and down at oncoming traffic, desperately trying to get others to stop and help.
I leaned over you as another trooper and the driver of the semi came to help.
I looked into your eyes
You looked back
And then... You were gone...
The news reports you died in the hospital, but I knew in that moment, it was over...
I should have died twice today. I survived a high-speed spinout. When death came for me a second time, you were there. You traded your life for mine in the line of duty.
I vow for as long as I live, I will never forget your smile. I will never forget your kindness. I will never forget your sacrifice.
I owe you a debt I don't think I can repay.
Rest in peace. May your soul find tranquility.
A Maine State Police Detective Ben Campbell, was struck and killed Wednesday morning on Interstate 95 in Hampden in what Col. John Cote called a "bizarre" accident.
On April 3, 2019 Ben Campbell was outside his cruiser at the site of a disabled vehicle south of the Coldbrook Road overpass at about 7:30 a.m. when he was struck by a tire that had separated from the wheel of a logging truck, Cote said Wednesday afternoon at a press conference in Bangor.
Headed to a training assignment in Augusta where he was scheduled to be the instructor, Campbell had pulled to the side of the road to assist a car that had spun off the southbound lanes and was pointed north during Wednesday morning's snowfall. As a logging truck approached the scene, two tires separated from the front axle on the trailer. One rolled into the median between the northbound and southbound lanes while the other struck Campbell, then the vehicle he was assisting.
Campbell, 31, lived in Millinocket with his wife, Hilary, and a six-month-old son, Everett, according to Cote. He was a detective with the polygraph unit.
Campbell was taken to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he died, Cote said.
Funeral service will be held in Portland at Cross Insurance Arena at 11am on Tuesday April 9. Once family members arrive from Massachusetts, where Campbell grew up, his body will be taken to the Maine Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy, which is standard procedure, Cote said. It will be escorted to Augusta by troopers in a caravan.
Detective Campbell had served with the Maine State Police for six and a half years .
He was promoted to Detective in 2017 and was assigned to the Polygraph Unit.
He is survived by his wife, Hilary, and 6-month-old son, Everett.
Dear Detective Ben Campbell.
Today, I lost control of my car and did a 180 on I-95 South. I was shaken up, but otherwise fine. I called 911 and requested help in getting turned around on the busy highway.
You stopped to help me. You took my ID as per the standard. You came back to return it. You wore one of the warmest smiles I've ever seen. A smile that, without words, could give the world a moment of peace were it to look upon. I honestly felt safer in that moment as you stood by my drivers side window.
That changed. In a split second, I saw your smile turn to the breifest shade of concern as a logging semi came over the hill, before a tire came into my peripheral vision.
I blacked out. My first and only thought upon waking up was "I've died, haven't I?" I couldn't see anything but bright white light. Then my ears began ringing. I was able to open my eyes. My glasses partly crushed as I lifted my head before they fell off. My airbag had deployed. You weren't beside me anymore...
I stumbled out of my car, moving to the other side of the gaurd rail to avoid anything else hitting me.
That's when I saw you. Two tires had fallen off the truck. One struck my car, the other struck you.
Out of breath and still dizzy, I came to your side, pleeding for you to wake up. You responded with a sound so haunting, I don't dare describe it out of respect.
My mind raced. It had been years since I had any formal CPR training, and I was afraid that if I touched you without knowing just how bad you might be hurt, I'd just make it worse. I began waving and jumping up and down at oncoming traffic, desperately trying to get others to stop and help.
I leaned over you as another trooper and the driver of the semi came to help.
I looked into your eyes
You looked back
And then... You were gone...
The news reports you died in the hospital, but I knew in that moment, it was over...
I should have died twice today. I survived a high-speed spinout. When death came for me a second time, you were there. You traded your life for mine in the line of duty.
I vow for as long as I live, I will never forget your smile. I will never forget your kindness. I will never forget your sacrifice.
I owe you a debt I don't think I can repay.
Rest in peace. May your soul find tranquility.
A Maine State Police Detective Ben Campbell, was struck and killed Wednesday morning on Interstate 95 in Hampden in what Col. John Cote called a "bizarre" accident.
On April 3, 2019 Ben Campbell was outside his cruiser at the site of a disabled vehicle south of the Coldbrook Road overpass at about 7:30 a.m. when he was struck by a tire that had separated from the wheel of a logging truck, Cote said Wednesday afternoon at a press conference in Bangor.
Headed to a training assignment in Augusta where he was scheduled to be the instructor, Campbell had pulled to the side of the road to assist a car that had spun off the southbound lanes and was pointed north during Wednesday morning's snowfall. As a logging truck approached the scene, two tires separated from the front axle on the trailer. One rolled into the median between the northbound and southbound lanes while the other struck Campbell, then the vehicle he was assisting.
Campbell, 31, lived in Millinocket with his wife, Hilary, and a six-month-old son, Everett, according to Cote. He was a detective with the polygraph unit.
Campbell was taken to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he died, Cote said.
Funeral service will be held in Portland at Cross Insurance Arena at 11am on Tuesday April 9. Once family members arrive from Massachusetts, where Campbell grew up, his body will be taken to the Maine Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy, which is standard procedure, Cote said. It will be escorted to Augusta by troopers in a caravan.
Detective Campbell had served with the Maine State Police for six and a half years .
He was promoted to Detective in 2017 and was assigned to the Polygraph Unit.
He is survived by his wife, Hilary, and 6-month-old son, Everett.
