PALMYRA – Heather Stewart, 17, of Corinna was seriously injured Monday night when she drove off Lang Hill Road and struck a tree. She was alone in the car and no other vehicles were involved.

Maine State Trooper Sean Kinney said Stewart was operating a 1992 Oldsmobile Achieva around 11:20 p.m. heading west on the roadway. He said alcohol did not appear to be involved, but there were no witnesses to the crash and he was unable to speak to Stewart at the scene because of her injuries.

“It is likely that she fell asleep,” said the trooper.

Stewart was trapped in the vehicle and was extricated by Newport Rescue and Fire Department. “There was a great deal of vehicle damage,” Kinney said.

She was taken by Sebasticook Valley Ambulance to the nearby Palmyra Golf Course where she was taken by LifeFlight air ambulance to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Her condition on Tuesday was listed as serious.

Kinney was assisted at the scene by Trooper Derrick Record and Somerset County Deputy Matt Cunningham.