CYR PLANTATION – Three Texas residents who were visiting family in Grand Isle suffered injuries, some critical, after a single-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon.

Cyr Plantation is near Van Buren.

Aroostook County sheriff’s Deputy Vance Palmer said Jennifer Whitten, 23, was southbound on U.S. Route 1 in a 2000 GMC Jimmy when the accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Whitten was accompanied by her sister Hollie Whitten, 20, and Hollie Whitten’s husband, Perry Rasmussen, 22.

Palmer said Holly Whitten was in the passenger seat, while Rasmussen was in the back seat.

The three were headed to Presque Isle for Christmas shopping when Jennifer Whitten rounded a corner on a portion of the route known locally as the Van Buren Road. The sport utility vehicle apparently got caught in slush as Whitten was negotiating a curve, and she lost control.

The SUV ran off the road and struck a grove of trees on the driver’s side. It then rotated and came to rest in a ditch.

Jennifer Whitten suffered head trauma and other injuries and was flown to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Palmer said she was listed in critical condition late Saturday evening.

Hollie Whitten suffered neck trauma and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Rasmussen was not seriously injured.

Palmer said Rasmussen told him that both of the Whittens were wearing seat belts, but that he was not. Rasmussen said that he hastily threw his arm through his seat belt when the car started skidding off the road.

The condition of the Whitten sisters was not available Sunday afternoon. The vehicle was considered a total loss.

Roads throughout Aroostook County were wet and slippery in places after freezing rain began falling late Friday evening. The freezing rain continued into Saturday before changing to all rain Saturday afternoon.

Police in Fort Kent, Presque Isle and Caribou reported that they had dealt with several minor property damage accidents throughout the day Saturday, in concert with fielding reports of vehicles off the road.