Woman dies in Orland car crash

ORLAND – A 71-year-old local woman died in a single-car crash that injured three other people in the vehicle late Tuesday night on Route 1.

Rose Elaine Centanni of Orland suffered major trauma in the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a report from Lt. Tim Cote of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.

According to the press statement, Centanni was a passenger in a Pontiac sedan driven by Carolyn R. White, 41, of Orland. White was headed west on Route 1 near the public boat landing at about 9:45 p.m. when she failed to negotiate a corner.

White’s vehicle left the right side of the road, struck a sign and rolled over several times before it struck a tree. It came to rest on the passenger’s side.

Emergency crews from the Orland Fire Department, Bucksport Fire and Ambulance and Peninsula Ambulance responded and worked to extricate several of the victims from the wreck.

Passenger Stephan Centanni, 55, of Orland suffered severe injuries to his neck and back and was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor by LifeFlight helicopter. He was initially in serious condition, according to Lt. Cote, but hospital officials had no information on his condition late Wednesday afternoon.

White and passenger Nicolette Centanni, 26, of Worcester, Mass., both suffered minor injuries, and were taken to the Bangor hospital by ambulance. White was initially listed in stable condition, but no additional information was available on her condition late Wednesday. Nicolette Centanni was treated at the hospital and later released.

According to Cote, everyone in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt except Stephen Centanni.

Deputy Christopher Thornton is the lead investigator on the accident. He was assisted at the scene on Tuesday by Lt. Patrick Kane, Lt. Timothy Cote and Deputy Rob Morang.

Lt. Kane will reconstruct the accident, which remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, investigators said Wednesday that speed and alcohol were factors in an accident that injured five people in Tremont earlier this week.

According to Deputy Morang, the driver, Aurielle Tedesco, 17, of Tremont was traveling too fast on Route 102 in Tremont at about 4:30 p.m. Monday when she tried to negotiate a left-hand curve. The car drifted too far to the right and then crossed over the road and went onto the shoulder on the other side where it struck a utility pole. The vehicle then flipped over onto its roof.

There were five people in the vehicle at the time of the accident. In addition to Tedesco, there were two juveniles, a male and female, both from Tremont, whose names were not released; Ryan Miller, 25, and Brandon Thomas, 18, both of Southwest Harbor.

According to Morang, several of them were ejected from the vehicle. All five were injured and were taken to local hospitals. Although several of those injuries were serious, none was considered life-threatening, he said.

“Alcohol and speed were factors in the accident and charges are pending,” Morang said.

The accident remains under investigation.