CARIBOU — Five people were treated at Cary Medical Center Wednesday for injuries received in two motor vehicle accidents in the afternoon. They were released after treatment.

Caribou Police Officer Frank Patane said that Verne Weatherhead, 80, of Limestone had stopped his vehicle at the intersection of North Main Street and U. S. Route 1 in front of the Cary Medical Center at 2:20 p.m. He apparently didn’t see the vehicle approaching from his right that was driven by Kelli McGlinn, 18, of Caribou. Weatherhead drove into the side of the McGlinn vehicle, Patane said.

The impact caused the McGlinn vehicle to strike the cement island at the driveway entrance to the medical center and become airborne for 25 to 30 feet before landing on its front in the ditch, Patane said.

McGlinn and her passengers, Jennifer Dempster and Amy Violette, were taken to the medical center.

Patane said the use of seat belts prevented serious injuries.

“I would have had three dead bodies,” Patane said. “There is no doubt in my mind. The steering wheel was within inches of her (McGlinn’s) chest.”

McGlinn’s 1985 two-door Subaru was destroyed.

Weatherhead was not injured. Police estimated damage to his 1983 Mercury four-door vehicle at $3,000.

The accident is still under investigation.

Washburn Police Chief Gary Sanfacon investigated a 2:35 p.m. accident at the Washburn-Woodland town line that involved a car and a tractor-trailer.

According to Sanfacon, Betty A. Wilcox, 45, of Woodland was traveling in a southeasterly direction on the Perham Road and slid through the intersection of Route 164 on the “extremely” slippery road.

Her car struck a tractor-trailer operated by Mark E. Michaud, 29, of Fort Fairfield. The truck was loaded with about 24,000 pounds of loose french fries in large containers. The McCain Foods Inc. truck was on its way to a company packing plant in Washburn.

In the impact, the trailer unit slid off the road and onto its side.

Wilcox was transported to Cary Medical Center by the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Service. Her 1992 Oldsmobile was destroyed. Sanfacon took Michaud to the medical center.

The accident was caused by slippery roads, Sanfacon said. No charges are expected, he said.