Van carrying 4 crashes, rolls 300 feet in Belfast

BELFAST – A Pennsylvania family of four visiting Maine for Christmas was hospitalized after their van hit a power pole and rolled more than 300 feet on Route 3 early Monday.

A 6-year-old boy suffered the most serious injuries and was transferred to a Bangor hospital for surgical treatment.

Police Chief Allen Weaver said the family of Norbert DeBooth Sr. 34, of Reading, Pa., was traveling in a rented 1995 Chevrolet van when the vehicle left the road about 4 a.m.

The van had just crested Hayford Hill on Route 3 and was headed toward Belfast when, for some reason, it strayed to the right and left the road.

The van slammed into a pole, cutting the pole in half, rolled over several times and came to rest in a driveway 342 feet from the pole.

Norbert DeBooth Jr., 6, and Ebonee DeBooth, also 6, had been sleeping in the back of the van and were ejected. Both children were found in a driveway. Neither child was restrained in the vehicle while they slept.

The boy received a serious injury to his jaw and multiple bumps, bruises and contusions. He was treated at Waldo County General Hospital along with the rest of the family, then was transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor for surgery. His sister Ebonee also suffered cuts and bruises.

DeBooth Sr. and front-seat passenger Ayana Jones, 27, of Reading, Pa., both were wearing seat belts and were hospitalized with minor injuries. Jones is pregnant.

“The biggest concern was Ayana, the fact that she was pregnant, but everything appears fine at this time,” Weaver said Monday.

Weaver said DeBooth told him the van suddenly pulled to the right, and “the next thing he knew he was off the road. We attribute the accident to driver inattention, fatigue and unfamiliarity with the area,” he said.

Weaver said the van’s roof was ripped off and a television that was ejected from the van struck a vehicle in a driveway, puncturing its hood.

“It was fortunate they weren’t hurt worse than they were, especially the kids,” he said. “It was a very bad accident.”

Officers Brian Lunt and Michael Rolerson covered the accident. Members of the Belfast Fire Department and Belfast Ambulance also assisted.