LINCOLN, Maine — An 88-year-old Lincoln woman suffered possible chest injuries when her rented vehicle left U.S. Route 2 and went into a drainage ditch before striking a new Bank of Maine sign on Friday, police and firefighters said.
Lincoln firefighters said they used the Jaws of Life to free Almida Daigle from the 2011 Ford Focus she was driving when the accident occurred about noon.
The extent of Daigle’s injuries was not immediately apparent, but firefighters said she appeared semiconscious at the scene. Penobscot Valley Ambulance Service took her to the hospital for examination as a precaution, police Officer Mark Fucile said.
“I don’t think the injuries are life-threatening,” Fucile said.
Daigle was heading along Route 2, which is also known as West Broadway, toward downtown Lincoln when she lost control of the Ford just before it crossed Penobscot Valley Avenue. She told investigators that her unfamiliarity with the Ford caused the accident, Fucile said.
“From what it appears to be, she hit the accelerator, not the brake, as she was driving along West Broadway,” Fucile said.
Daigle was using the rental car while her own vehicle was being repaired, Fucile said.
Workers at the bank said their first indication of the accident was a loud bang. They were among the witnesses, including passers-by, who called 911. One bank worker who ran to the accident immediately afterward said Daigle complained of chest pains.
The Ford dented a traffic light pole, knocked over the West Broadway-Penobscot Valley Avenue road sign and went through the shrubs surrounding the bank sign before coming to rest against the bank sign, Fucile said.
The bank sign at the intersection of Route 2 and Penobscot Valley Avenue had been installed about a month ago, bank workers said. It was knocked slightly askew but did not appear to be heavily damaged. Utility or bank workers cut electricity to the sign as a precaution, Fucile said.
Fucile said he did not know whether Daigle was wearing her seat belt, but the Ford’s front and side air bags appeared to have deployed properly. The speed limit in the area is 35 mph, and Daigle probably was traveling about that fast when the accident occurred, he said.
The car had extensive front-end damage and was a total loss, Fucile said.
The bank sign made the headline!! I would think the woman’s injuries were more important.
“She told investigators that her unfamiliarity with the Ford caused the accident”
“From what it appears to be, she hit the accelerator, not the brake, as she was driving along West Broadway”
I’m glad she’s gonna be okay, but I’m thinking maybe she shouldn’t be driving anymore. I hope she takes this incident as a sign that maybe her driving days are over.
I agree with you 100%
No offense to the sweet old lady… the brake and accelerator are always in the same exact place regardless of the vehicle…? I know I have to press down really hard in my car to make my car go, but in my brothers if I just tap it I take off like no tomorrow, I wonder if that is what they meant? I hope… if she doesn’t know the difference between the two then I would say it’s time to put up the license. Glad she is okay and no one else was hurt though!!
Lawmakers need to pass a bill that makes it so all cars have to have the gas peddle on the right side of the brake peddle.
I would give you 100 likes for that, and I also declare this be the comment of the week
16 is too young and 88 is too old
Which pedal is for the gas ??
And what is the other one for ??
“An 88-year-old Lincoln woman suffered possible chest injuries when her rented vehicle left U.S. Route 2 and went into a drainage ditch before striking a new Bank of Maine sign on Friday, police and firefighters said.”
I am glad the article later clarified the driver ‘lost control’ of her vehicle, I thought this was a case of a smart car deciding it was time to take a walk to the bank and cause some damage to their sign. I really thought there was a trend now of cars just “leaving” the roadway hitting bank signs!
I am not sure if it is true, been told by some that in the last several years the pedals have gotten closer.I remember their was a big diffence between the breake pedal and the gas pedal. Some have big feet(though I am sure she doesn’t), which can cause problems.
Another accident involving older people……and they always say I hit the wrong pedal. When cars were first made was the pedals the other way around? I’m only 31….Ive drove cars from the 60s but never like a Motel T…am I missing something????
LoL what is missing here is that in the State of Maine driving is a right not a privileged and a law needs to be made that at a certain age you should have to take another written exam and road test to make sure you still are able to drive safely!!! Just think if she had hit someone walking along the road, oh wait, here in Maine it doesn’t matter if you run people over, kill them, as long as you aren’t speeding or drinking.
Perhaps all of us should be taking periodic driving tests, not just seniors. At least when they have an unfortunate accident “texting” isn’t suggested as the cause.
88 years old crashes with a rental car while hers is being repaired? Broke down or body and fender work? Makes a person wonder!