UNION – An 82-year-old woman was in critical condition Thursday evening after the car in which she was riding was struck by another vehicle on Route 17, police said.

Maine State Police Trooper Terry Michaud said the collision occurred about noon at the intersection of Routes 17 and 131.

Helen Doyen was taken by helicopter to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. She is from North Carolina, but her hometown was not immediately available.

Doyen was a passenger in a 2000 Mercedes driven by Gloria Flynn, 76, of Rumford.

Michaud said Flynn was traveling south on Route 131, then attempted a left turn onto Route 17, but pulled into the path of a 1991 Ford Explorer driven west by Brian Bailey, 38, of Jefferson.

Bailey and his passenger refused medical attention at the scene, Michaud said. Flynn was taken to Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport for evaluation, was treated, then released.

The Mercedes was deemed a total loss, Michaud said. Neither speed nor alcohol appeared to be factors in the accident, he said.