ORLAND, Maine — The driver of a white Ford Mustang that veered off U.S. Route 1 and slammed into a tree stump at an Orland home has died at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth, according to Maine State Police.
The driver, Edward Sargent, 64, of Sullivan, was alone in his vehicle and was not wearing a seat belt when he crashed into the stump around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, state police Sgt. Alden Bustard said in a news release.
Donna Conary, who lives at 1589 Acadia Highway with her husband and daughter, said she didn’t see the accident but heard the vehicle crash into the stump about five feet from her front door.
“I was sitting inside reading the paper and I heard a thump, then glass breaking, and I saw a piece of plastic fly by my window,” said Conary.
Conary said she called 911 and went outside to check on Sargent, who she said was bleeding from the head and did not respond when she asked if he was all right.
Conary and her daughter Erin Conary said the car’s windshield was broken and the driver’s-side air bag had deployed.
“He was bleeding and unresponsive,” Donna Conary said. “I don’t even want to describe it.”
Maine State Police went to the scene of the accident and had to cut down a small crab apple tree in order to get the driver’s-side door open to remove Sargent from the vehicle.
By 10:30 a.m., the police and vehicle were gone, but pieces of plastic and shards of glass littered the area near the stump. Tire tracks leading from the road were visible on Conary’s lawn.
Conary said she often sees vehicles cruising by her home at high speed, despite roadwork on U.S. Route 1 near her home.
“People don’t pay attention to the signs that say to slow down,” she said. “We see that every day.”
State police spokesman Stephen McCausland said it was unclear whether speed was a factor in the accident.
“There’s not much of a mystery here other than why he went off the road,” McCausland said. “But we’ll likely never know that.”
Follow Mario Moretto on Twitter at @riocarmine.
This man actually died. How sad! I wonder if it was a medical condition. Thoughts are with his family. RIP
That’s the longest 5 feet I’ve ever seen.
Very sad. Condolences to the family and friends.
Pity – would he have made it had he been wearing a seat belt….
Not if he died of a heart attack that caused him to crash.
People that are already dead don’t pump blood from head wounds.
He was still alive or had pulse while on scene they would not of transported him to the hospital if he had a heart attack and died on scene.
I never said he was dead when he crashed. Even though he was alive when transported, if it was a medical condition that caused him to crash, and he succumbed to the medical condition that caused the accident, then no seatbelt would have saved him. They didn’t say that his accident injuries are what caused his death, have they?
I realize you like to participate and all, but your comments lately have shown a lot of unlogic. Case in point this comment, which makes even less sense given the fact the article states this in the first sentence:
” has died at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth”
At least _read_ the article completely before posting.
I never said he was dead when he crashed. Even though he was alive when transported, if it was a heart attack that caused him to crash, and he succumbed to the medical condition that caused the accident, then no seatbelt would have saved him. They didn’t say that his accident injuries are what caused his death, have they?
Well at least you make your statements so vague that they offer you plenty of loopholes to exploit when someone challenges your logic. Keep up the good work!
My thoughts are with his children Karmen Sargent, Nathaniel Sargent and Nicole Sargent as well as all the grandchildren. Eddie was a very sweet man and will be missed by many
My thoughts are with his children Karmen Sargent, Nathaniel Sargent and Nicole Sargent as well as all the grandchildren. Eddie was a very sweet man and will be missed by many
My deep condolences to the family. I think everyone should be more careful when they are driving.
I commute at least an hour each-way, 5 days per week…and I can tell you I’ve seen a huge increase in the amount of people speeding, negotiating turns on the opposite side of the road, etc.
9 times out of 10…the car you pass at 20+ over the limit will just end up behind you at the same stop-light. Slow the F down.
And does Driver’s Ed no longer teach kids that the center line should be treated as if its made of acid and lava and you should avoid crossing it at all costs? I’ve had people actually blow their horns at me because I didn’t _get into the shoulder fast enough_ as they squalled around a corner, half-in the other (MY) lane…
Always wear your seat belt.
I have always wondered what the purpose is, after the tree has been cut down, why cant the stump be lowered? Granted if it had been lowered Mr Sargent would have impacted into something else (rest his soul). Yet, in all honesty. What purpose does a two foot tall stump serve?
If you cut the stump down and ever intend to remove the stump, you’ll likely regret cutting it down.
Winner winner chicken dinner. You can’t haul a stump out of the ground if there is nothing to tie the chain/strap to.
So it`s the homeowner and the stump that killed this gentleman?
Nothing to do with he wasn`t wearing a seatbelt or a medical condition or other conditions.
I`m quite positive the person who cut down the tree didnt say- I`m going to leave the stump so a car can slam in to it.
I don’t think that Downeasta was trying to associate blame to the homeowner. Merely asking a question.
I dont see how Downeasta is saying its the stump not being cut would be the homeowner nor who cut it downs fault. I think he/she is just simply asking because she dont know why people would do that cause if he/she like me you see if everywhere. I personally do not know why when they cut a tree down they leave the stump. I would think that if you wanted the tree cut and gone you would want the stump gone as well.
“What purpose does a two foot tall stump serve?”
I have a 3 ft stump outside my house…you know what I did?…mounted a bird bath on it…looks and works marvelous! ..besides…I also live on a hectic and busy road where majority of drivers are heavy on the gas pedal….so I want that tree stump there to somewhat guard my home …better to someone hit the stump than to slam into my home and put my family in danger…which is exactly what could of happened here to Mrs. Conary and her daughter if that stump was not there…
anyways….I am kind of shocked at myself…and the other clowns on here for commenting about something so stupid….a respected gentleman of the community has lost his life and his poor family is grieving this loss and this is what they will be reading if any of them come on here….sad..
to the Sargent Family & Friends…I am so sorry for your loss…..
to the Conary family….sorry you had to witness such a tragedy…
““There’s not much of a mystery here other than why he went off the road”
Given recent reports of the increase in speeding on Maine roads, I’ll venture to guess he was…speeding?
You don’t get that much damage from just bumping into a tree stump.