N.J. hiker in hospital after falling on trail

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK – A New Jersey woman was flown to a Bangor hospital Wednesday after she fell from a Cadillac Mountain hiking trail Wednesday and landed on her head.

Although Bette Powell, 60, only fell five feet, she suffered a serious head injury in the fall, according to Ranger Richard Rechholtz.

Paramedics from the park and Bar Harbor, along with other emergency personnel, went to the scene of the 1 p.m. accident, Rechholtz said.

Rechholtz said the rescue was executed quickly and a LifeFlight helicopter remained on call at the ball field in Bar Harbor as emergency room staff at Mount Desert Island Hospital initially examined Powell, who had been hiking with her husband.

A spokeswoman at the MDI hospital said Powell was airlifted to Eastern Maine Medical Center. An EMMC nursing supervisor said Powell was still being evaluated early Wednesday evening.