FAIRFIELD, Maine — A Canaan man suffered serious injuries in a three-vehicle accident on Route 201, according to police.
Michael Fernald, 44, was taken by LifeFlight to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, according to Patrolman William Beaulieu of the Fairfield Police Department.
He was listed in critical condition Thursday night, according to a CMMC nursing supervisor.
Fernald’s son Michael Fernald Jr., 18, a passenger in the Dodge pickup being driven by his father, also suffered injuries, Beaulieu said. Fernald Jr. reportedly was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer Campus in Waterville. The extent of his injuries was unclear.
The accident reportedly occurred about 1 p.m. when Betty Hunt, 82, of Fairfield went through a stop sign or failed to yield properly at the intersection of Ohio Hill Road and Route 201. Hunt’s 2000 Chevrelot Prism hit a 2008 Subaru traveling northbound on Route 201 driven by Eugene Steinberger, 51, of St. Albans.
After being struck, Steinberger’s vehicle traveled into the opposite lane and hit Fernald’s pickup truck.
All of the motorists apparently were wearing seat belts, and air bags in the vehicles deployed properly, Beaulieu said.
The road was closed until about 4 p.m. while members of the Maine State Police and Somerset County Sheriff’s Office reconstructed the accident.
The accident remains under investigation, Beaulieu said.
This is the reason why drivers of a certain age, maybe 60+ need to take drivers tests more often. Some drivers will do fine at any age, others will not and will cause accidents. Mother-in-law was hell bent to drive even tho she could not master certain maneuvers, her older driving instructor was ‘sweet’ on her and let her get away with her ‘inability’ to drive safely. She managed to knock down a road worker, dis-obeyed safety signs and traffic workers and was sued in one incident. She was head strong and kept driving until finally she listened to us and thankfully stopped driving but kept her license ‘just in case’. What a hell she put people through! At first other family members would argue that not letting her drive was illegal, we argued that she was a danger to others. Inept drivers are a danger at any age.
I’ve said it before, how many deaths will there have to be before action is taken on elderly drivers. None until a state representatives family is affected.
I’ve seen people of all ages drive badly ! I’ve seen drivers reading books, newspapers , maps , talking on the phone and texting , applying makeup etc. I always try to drive defensively , as if someone is out to get me. So far , no accidents. It would probably help if people would obey the laws we have in place.