MECHANIC FALLS — A local man walked away with only minor injuries Thursday evening after his car and a tractor-trailer collided on Route 121.

The crash left the car mangled and the tractor-trailer on a lawn, but injuries were limited to cuts and scrapes.

The identities of the drivers were not immediately available.

“It made one hell of a crash,” said James Lavertu of Oxford, an off-duty paramedic who had just walked into Shooter’s Pub when the vehicles collided. “When I came outside I thought, ‘Oh, this isn’t looking good.'”

Witnesses said the driver of a four-door Chevrolet was making a left turn from Route 121 onto Park Street when his car and an oncoming tractor-trailer headed toward Auburn collided.

The impact crushed the passenger side of the car, sending it spinning off the road. A rear tire was ripped from the car and other debris went flying.

Lavertu said he expected the worst when he rushed to the aid of the driver. It turned out his services were not needed.

“He got out on his own,” Lavertu said. “He was just walking around and looking at his car.”

The driver suffered a gash over one eye, Lavertu said. He was examined at the scene. The truck driver was not hurt.

Witnesses said the setting sun likely contributed to the crash.

“The sun was just blinding,” Lavertu said.

Traffic was backed up in both directions as emergency crews responded and Mechanic Falls police began their investigation.