Fog blamed in accident that hurts 3 in Monson

MONSON – Three people were hospitalized Sunday night when three vehicles collided in the fog on Route 15.

Kelly Letarte, 31, of Dover-Foxcroft was driving southbound at about 5:17 p.m. when her vehicle crossed the centerline and struck two northbound vehicles, according to Investigator Jamie Kane of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department.

Kane said Letarte’s 1992 Isuzu Trooper first struck a vehicle driven by Lloyd Erickson, 45, of Greenville, who was traveling with his wife, Melody Erickson, and his daughter, Brianne Erickson, ages unknown.

He said Erickson saw Letarte cross over the line and attempted to pull right to avoid a collision but Letarte’s vehicle glanced off his vehicle. Letarte’s vehicle then struck a pickup truck driven by Craig Stoddard, 48, of Beaver Cove, who was traveling behind Erickson.

The crash caused Stoddard’s 2002 Chevrolet pickup truck to roll over and it came to rest on its top, Kane said. Letarte’s vehicle continued on about 50 feet and struck some trees. She had to be extricated and was taken by Mayo Regional Hospital Ambulance to the Dover-Foxcroft hospital. She was later transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where her condition was being evaluated late Sunday night.

Stoddard and his passenger, his son, Jacob, 17, also were taken by ambulance to Mayo Regional Hospital. Kane said the elder Stoddard was transferred to EMMC. Both had been wearing their seat belts, he said.

The Erickson family, who were wearing seat belts, were shaken but not injured, according to Kane. He estimated damage to their 2000 Ford Explorer at $5,000.

It is unknown if Letarte was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, the officer said. Her vehicle was demolished.

The Stoddard vehicle also was demolished.

Kane said the accident is still under investigation, but he believes fog may have played a role.