Pair of Monday accidents keep responders busy

Scene of rollover accident on Lower Guinea. (Lebanon Rescue photo)

LEBANON - Two accidents in less than an hour and a half kept first responders busy on Monday night.

The most serious accident occurred when a car overturned on Lower Guinea Road about a half mile in from Long Swamp around 8:30 p.m.

Two 16-year-old females from Lebanon were in the Nissan Sentra when it crashed and were transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital with what were described as serious but nonlife-threatening injuries.

Trooper David Coflesky of the Maine State Police arrived on scene quickly and helped extricate them after kicking out a window.

Both were wearing their seat belts.

The vehicle was destroyed in the accident and was towed from the scene.

Lower Guinea Road was closed while emergency crews worked.

The first accident was reported at 7:24 p.m. and was located on Carl Broggi Highway, about a mile west of Little River Road.

When Rescue Crews arrived they found a vehicle half-submerged in a marshy area. 

“I could see the back end of the SUV was submerged in about three-feet-deep water and the male operator was out of the vehicle. He claimed he was just shook up and not injured. We were able to safely get him to the side of the road without putting rescue members in water rescue gear in to get him. He was evaluated on scene but did not require transport to the hospital,” Assistant Chief Jason Cole said.

The vehicle was a 2001 Ford Explorer.

The driver of the vehicle was a 17-year-old male from Acton. He said he was traveling eastbound on Carl Broggi Highway when he possibly fell asleep and crossed over the westbound lane, went about 200 feet and came to rest in a swamp. He barely missed a telephone pole. Passing motorists could see the headlights of the vehicle down in the swamp and called 911.

Both accidents are under investigation by the Maine State Police.