One dead in head-on Harrington collision

HARRINGTON – A woman was killed and a man seriously injured when two trucks collided head-on early Tuesday morning on Route 1 near Narraguagus High School.

Zella Cox, 52, of Cherryfield was dead by the time ambulances arrived, according to a statement released Tuesday afternoon by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Dale Look, 43, of Columbia Falls was trapped inside his vehicle and had to be extricated by fire and rescue personnel. He was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he was being treated for multiple injuries. Sgt. Travis Willey characterized Look’s injuries as serious to critical.

Police and ambulance crews responded to the accident just before 5:30 a.m. after witnesses called 911.

An initial investigation determined that Look was traveling west on Route 1 in his 1996 Dodge pickup. Cox was headed east driving a 2004 GMC truck.

Cox’s vehicle crossed the centerline and struck Look’s Dodge head-on. According to the sheriff’s office, driver inattention may have been a contributing factor, but the crash remains under investigation.

Willey said it’s too early to tell if speed was a factor, but the limit in that stretch of Route 1 is 55 mph.

Both drivers were alone in their vehicles and were wearing seat belts.

The crash closed both lanes of Route 1 in Harrington for several hours, and traffic was rerouted through side roads and on Route 1A.

Maine State Police assisted with traffic control and reconstruction. Fire crews from Addison and Harrington were on scene as well and Willey praised their efforts.

“For part-time departments, they always do an outstanding job, and it’s not an easy job to do,” he said.

erussell@bangordailynews.net

664-0524