Five teens injured in 2 Warren crashes

WARREN – A male teenager was seriously injured Friday in a one-vehicle crash on Old Augusta Road, less than a mile from an accident where four youths were injured the day before.

The 16-year-old male is not being identified at this time, Knox County Sheriff’s Lt. Larry Hesseltine said Friday. The boy was driving at an “extremely high rate of speed,” Hesseltine said. “The car’s bent right in half.”

The car was estimated to be traveling between 70 and 80 mph in a 45 mph zone, Hesseltine said.

The boy was taken to Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta and later was airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland, according to Hesseltine. The driver, who was alone in the 1990 Geo Storm, suffered massive chest and head injuries, he said.

The Medomak Valley High School student was driving east on Old Augusta Road when he lost control, skidded and ran down some trees. He was not wearing a seat belt and was partially ejected, Hesseltine said.

Waldoboro and Warren ambulances came to the 4 p.m. crash scene, as did fire crews from both towns. County deputies and Waldoboro police were also at the scene.

The accident is being reconstructed by Maine State Police Trooper Mark Coleman and is still under investigation.

On Thursday, four teenagers were injured in a crash on their way to Medomak Valley High School. All four were wearing seat belts, which prevented their ejection, police said Friday.

The one-vehicle crash occurred about 7:15 a.m. Thursday on Route 235 in Waldoboro. Old Augusta Road and Route 235 intersect.

Waldoboro police are investigating that accident, Chief Leroy Jones said Friday.

Maine State Police Trooper Patrick Hood, who assisted at the scene by taking some of the youths out of the vehicle, said the driver, Krystal Baker, 16, and her sister, Sarah Baker, 14, both of Union, were taken by ambulance to Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

Krystal Baker was admitted with a head injury and was in fair condition Friday, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Sarah Baker was treated and released.

The students apparently were heading south on Route 235 toward the school when the driver attempted to pass another car, then tried to avoid an oncoming vehicle. The driver lost control of the 1989 Ford sedan, left the road sideways, hit a tree and landed on a pile of logs.

The two passengers in the rear of the car were taken to other hospitals, one by helicopter, Jones said. The rear-seat passengers were a Washington female and a Union male, both 16. Police did not identify them.

According to Jones, all of the teens were wearing seat belts and no one was ejected from the car. The vehicle was demolished. He does not believe alcohol or drugs were involved.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department is reconstructing the accident, which is being investigated by Waldoboro police Officer Jamie Wilson.

Maine State Police, Waldoboro ambulance and Warren Rescue and Fire departments also were at the scene.