Accidents blamed on slick roads > Alna couple die in crash

A highway crash that caused the death of an Alna couple Saturday was among dozens caused by snowfall that made roads slippery across most areas of maine, authorities said.

In Alna, Paul Avery, 68, and his wife, Marjorie, 66, were killed when their station wagon crossed into the path of a van on state Route 218, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department said.

Authorities said the two were pronounced deat at the scene of the accident around 8:30 a.m. The driver of the van, Raymond Robitaille, 51, of Alna was taken to Miles Health Care Center in Damariscotta, the sheriff’s department said.

The state police barracks in Augusta reported 35 highway accidents as of Saturday evening, said dispatcher Jackie Sabasteanski.

Police in southern Penobscot County reported dozens of accidents in the weekend’s inclement weather. Most involved only property damage, but a few resulted in minor injuries.

Orono reported at least a half dozen collissions, including one that involved four cars. In Orrington, a car went off Route 15 and struck a garage Saturday afternoon. No one was injured in either incident. Details were not available Sunday night on either incident.

The roads were slippery even though most areas didn’t see major accumulations of snow, said Jack Rimkunas from the National Weather Service in Portland.

Most areas received a dusting, but an area east of Rockland had accumulations of snow, Rimkunas said. Bangor reported 2 inches of snow, Machias 4 inches and Lubec at least 6 inches, he said.