Monticello woman dies in collision

PRESQUE ISLE – A Monticello woman was pronounced dead at the scene of an accident Wednesday morning after failing to stop at a stop sign in Presque Isle.

Presque Isle police Officer Lynn Hartley said the accident that claimed the life of Catherine Rock, 77, happened just before 10:20 a.m. at the intersection of Centerline Road and Route 10.

According to Hartley, Rock was traveling north on Centerline Road when she failed to stop for a stop sign. At the same time, Virginia Smith, 35, of Easton was headed south on Route 10 in her 2000 Chevy pickup accompanied by her two daughters, 12 and 13 years old.

Rock’s 2003 Chevy Blazer collided head-on with Smith’s vehicle.

Rock, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her air bag deployed in the crash.

Smith and her passengers, who all were wearing seat belts and were in a vehicle in which the air bags deployed, were taken by Crown Ambulance to The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle. The girls were treated for cuts and bruises and then released, according to Hartley.

Smith was to remain in the hospital overnight to be treated for lower back pain and other injuries that weren’t life-threatening.

Assisting at the scene were Presque Isle Officers Peter Johnson, Matt Cummings and Sgt. Mark Barnes. Also responding were Presque Isle Fire and Rescue, Crown Ambulance and the Presque Isle Highway Department.

State police Trooper Rob Flynn arrived later to do the accident reconstruction.

Hartley is the lead investigator of the accident.

jlbdn@ainop.com

768-5681