November 07, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Slushy roads blamed in three Somerset County accidents

ST. ALBANS — Slushy road conditions were blamed for three cars leaving the road in eastern Somerset County on Thursday. Deputy Richard Emery was busy throughout the day investigating two single-car accidents in St. Albans and a third in Palmyra.

Serious injury was avoided in each accident because drivers and their passengers were wearing seat belts, Emery said.

Estelle Tapley, 70, of Hartland was driving a 1994 Chevy van when she slid in some slush on Route 151 in Palmyra. The van hit the side of the road and rolled over, coming to rest on its top. Tapley was thrown onto her husband, Keith, riding in the passenger seat. The couple was removed from the van through the rear window when the side doors wouldn’t open, Emery said.

Both were taken to Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield. Keith Tapley was treated for a laceration and released.

Later in the day, Emery was called to Todds Corner Road in St. Albans, where a 1987 pickup driven by Kelly Simpson, 32, of Hartland struck slush in the road, slid into the ditch and struck a mailbox. The impact caused extensive damage to the truck, Emery said. Simpson was not injured.

The final accident during Emery’s shift was also in St. Albans, on Dexter Road, Route 43. Renee Wilber, 19, of Hartland was driving a 1986 Chrysler LeBaron with Jamie Wilber, also of Hartland, as her passenger. Wilber’s car struck slush in the road and landed in the ditch, sheering off fence posts in its path. The car narrowly missed hitting a telephone pole, Emery said. The Wilber car received extensive damage to the driver’s side and underneath, Emery said.

The women were unharmed and walked to a nearby house to call the Sheriff’s Department. Shaken up by the incident, both women chose to go to SVH in Pittsfield by ambulance to be examined, and were later released.


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