EASTON, Maine — The condition of a Mars Hill woman who has been hospitalized in Bangor since her accident with a moose in Easton last week is improving, according to her family.
Ronnie Smith, the father of Yoland Smith, 23, said Tuesday afternoon that his daughter remains in the intensive care unit at Eastern Maine Medical Center, but that doctors have told the family her condition is “stable.”
“She is in a lot better shape than she was the first night she came down here,” Smith, who lives in Blaine, said from the hospital. “I was able to talk to her this morning. I asked her if she knew who I was and she said ‘Yes, you’re my dad.’”
Sgt. Forrest Dudley of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department said the crash that injured Smith took place at approximately 8:30 p.m July 6 on Bangor Road.
Smith was traveling south in her 2002 Ford Mustang when she struck a bull moose that entered the road.
Smith continued to travel approximately a quarter mile before driving into a deep ditch.
Dudley said Smith suffered head trauma and lacerations in the accident.
“Eight of her teeth were knocked out in the accident and she suffered a neck fracture,” Ronnie Smith said Tuesday. “She really can’t talk too much because her tongue is so swollen and injured. But she is slowly improving.”
He also said that she suffered some skin contusions, which the family believes were inflicted when the moose rolled over the windshield and then the top of her car.
The Easton Fire Department used extrication equipment to free her from the vehicle and took her to The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle. She later was flown to Bangor by Aroostook Critical Care Air Transport.
Deputy Ross McQuade is the primary investigator. He was assisted at the scene by other sheriff’s department deputies and the U.S. Border Patrol.
The Mustang is considered a total loss.