CHINA, Maine — Distracted driving is believed to be a factor in a collision that sent two people to the hospital and resulted in one driver being charged Monday night, according to state police.
Craig Knowlton, 31, of Hope was traveling east on Route 3 when he apparently became distracted by a combination of his vehicle’s radio, his cellphone and looking out the window at a store, according to a statement from state police. The crash was reported shortly after 6 p.m.
Those factors apparently led to Knowlton failing to negotiate a turn and he drifted across the centerline into the path of Jasmine Bickford, 19, of China, the statement said.
Bickford attempted to swerve out of the way but could not avoid the collision, the statement said.
Rescuers used the jaws of life to remove Bickford from her vehicle because of extensive damage, but she suffered no more than numerous bumps and bruises and was taken to MaineGeneral Hospital in Augusta.
Knowlton was treated at Waldo General Hospital for a broken wrist. He was charged with failing to maintain control of a motor vehicle and operating with two defective tires.
China firefighters and Delta Rescue aided state police at the scene.
