Szewc’s legs broken in accident at UMaine

ORONO – Roommates Miranda Szewc and Allison Thrower were both taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center Thursday night after being hit by a car on the University of Maine campus.

The car, a 1984 Chevrolet, was driven by 20-year-old Shane Smith of Milford.

Szewc, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Maine, was supposed to be the No. 2 runner for the school’s cross country team in today’s America East Cross Country Championships. The accident, however, fractured the tibia in her left leg and the fibula in her right leg. She was released Friday afternoon after it was decided she would not need surgery.

Szewc is expected to be confined to a wheelchair for at least two weeks, said her father Steve Szewc. Both legs will be in casts for at least six weeks. The accident caused Szewc, a Bangor High School graduate, to experience her first major setback since she began running cross country in 1995, said her father.

Less than two weeks ago, Szewc finished in 100th place of 260 runners at the New England Cross Country Championships with a time of 19 minutes, 45 seconds in the 5,000-meter race. Suzanne Hussey and Ellen Hedlund are the leading candidates to take over the now vacant spot.

“This hurt us as a team quite a bit. She’s going to be missed,” said University of Maine cross country coach Mark Lech. “We’re hoping the ladies behind her can be able to fill right in.”

Thrower, also an 18-year-old freshman, suffered a fractured pelvis from the accident and was released early Friday morning. The Scarborough High School graduate has also returned home.

No charges were filed at the scene of the accident, however, the case is still under investigation, said University of Maine spokesperson Joe Carr. Smith was alone in the vehicle and was not injured.

The accident occurred at 8:55 p.m. under a steady rain Thursday, Carr said. The girls had been returning to their dorm room in Somerset Hall after visiting Szewc’s parents in Bangor, said Steve Szewc. The pair were in a crosswalk between the dorm and Orchard Parking Lot on the Rangeley Road when Smith struck the pair. “They didn’t see the car until the last possible second,” said Steve Szewc.

Smith, who is not a student at the university, could not be reached for comment.