BRUNSWICK, Maine — A head-on crash at Cook’s Corner near Merrymeeting Plaza shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday has resulted in at least two people being taken to hospitals.
According to Brunswick Police Cmdr. Marc Hagan, Jesse Mitchell, 19, of Harpswell was traveling east on Bath Road, when he allegedly reached for a cellphone that was on the floor of the 2008 GMC pickup truck he was driving. Mitchell’s vehicle then crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic.
Hagan said a 2004 Subaru passenger car driven by Diane Howard, 50, of Brunswick was traveling westbound. Howard apparently saw Mitchell’s truck heading toward her, and she tried to swerve into the opposite lane.
Mitchell also saw Howard and attempted to swerve back into his lane. However, the vehicles collided head-on in the center of the road, according to Hagan.
Rescue units from Bath, Topsham and Brunswick responded.
“When we arrived on-scene there were two vehicles with significant front-end damage,” said Brunswick Deputy Fire Chief Donald Koslosky.
Koslosky said Mitchell was extricated from his truck. Mitchell refused medical transportation, Koslosky said.
Howard’s two passengers were taken to hospitals after complaining of pain. Karin Smith, 44, was treated and released from Mid Coast Hospital with a non-life threatening injury. A 6-year-old boy was taken to Maine Medical Center, which was unable to provide additional information on Monday.
An area of Bath Road was shut down for a while Sunday due to the size of the debris field and to allow investigators to work, said Koslosky. A snow squall made cleanup “a little more difficult,” Koslosky said.
Mitchell was summonsed for failing to maintain control of his vehicle, according to Hagan.