PALMYRA, Maine - Four members of a Plymouth, Mass., family were taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor on Monday afternoon after a student driver panicked when the car struck the rumble strip on Interstate 95.
Maine State Trooper Sean Kinney said the family was “very, very lucky considering the car was demolished,” and that their injuries weren’ t serious. The crash occurred about 3:30 p.m. at mile marker 155 in the southbound lane.
Kinney said Ryan Spencer, 17, was driving on a permit, which is acceptable in Maine as long as the person is 16 years of age. Spencer was in the passing lane when the tires of the family’ s 2004 Kia minivan struck the rumble strip and the noise apparently frightened Spencer, causing him to lose control.
The van went into the median where it rolled over at least once, Kinney said, and came to rest on its side.
Tyler Spencer, 15, a back-seat passenger, was ejected from the vehicle. He was not wearing a seat belt, Kinney reported.
Tyler Spencer, Ryan Spencer, his mother, Karen Spencer, 42, who had been in the back seat, and his father, Jeffrey Spencer, 44, who was in the front seat, were taken to EMMC for treatment by Sebasticook Valley Hospital Ambulance.
Kinney said Karen Spencer complained of neck pain, Tyler Spencer had an ankle injury, and Ryan and Jeffrey appeared uninjured but required examination.
Kinney was assisted at the scene by Newport Fire and Rescue.