March 29, 2024
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2 injured in head-on collision in Belfast Driver pulled from auto that ignited on impact

BELFAST – Two people were injured in a head-on collision Monday on Swan Lake Avenue in which a driver was pulled from his burning vehicle.

Patrolman Kenneth Fitzjurls said William Harvey, 60, of Belfast and Clarine F. Hamm, 75, of Belmont were taken to Waldo County General Hospital after the 10 a.m. crash. Fitzjurls noted that air bags and seat belts likely prevented more serious injury.

Christopher Canning, 30, of Belfast, driver of a third vehicle involved in the crash, was uninjured.

Fitzjurls said the impact of the collision with Hamm’s 2002 Pontiac Grand Am caused Harvey’s 1989 Ford pickup truck to burst into flames. Canning, who was driving a 1989 Dodge pickup that was clipped by Hamm’s vehicle, pulled Harvey from his burning truck.

The accident occurred where Mill Lane joins Swan Lake Avenue. Hamm was headed south toward Belfast when she rounded a bend in the road and encountered Canning stopped behind a box truck that was waiting to make a left turn onto Mill Lane.

When Hamm attempted to swing around the two stopped vehicles, she crossed directly into Harvey’s lane and struck his pickup head on. The impact spun her car 180 degrees and caused Harvey’s pickup to catch fire.

“I think she came around the corner and wasn’t expecting anybody to be stopped in the road,” said Fitzjurls. “I just think it kind of surprised her to find two vehicles stopped in the middle of the road and, unfortunately for her, Bill was coming the other way.”

No charges were filed. Damage to Hamm’s vehicle was estimated at $15,000, while Harvey’s had $8,000 in damage. Both were declared total losses. The Pooler’s Garage pickup driven by Canning received $1,000 in damage.

Officers Brian Cunningham and Howard Dakin assisted at the scene. The Belfast Ambulance and Belfast Fire Department also responded.


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