A Fort Kent woman is in critical condition after she struck a moose on Interstate 95 near Howland early Saturday morning.
Maya Linnell, 23, suffered severe head injuries in the crash, which happened just after 1:30 a.m., according to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland. She was flown by Lifeflight helicopter from Howland, about 30 miles north of Bangor, to Maine Medical Center in Portland for treatment.
The impact tore the roof off Linnell’s Honda Accord. Two other vehicles behind Linnell’s struck the moose’s body, which landed on the interstate. Those two drivers suffered minor injuries.
Between September 2015 and September 2016, there were 305 crashes involving moose and vehicles on Maine roads, according to Maine Department of Transportation data. Of those crashes, 43 resulted in injuries and one was fatal.
Maine is believed to be home to more moose than any state in the nation except Alaska. Because of their build — barrel-shaped bodies atop spindly legs — when moose are hit broadside, their legs break and their bodies often fly over hoods and through windshields.
In spite of their awkward builds, moose can move surprisingly fast, darting out of roadside trees or bushes and catching drivers off guard. They’re also hard to see, especially at night, because of their dark fur, which tends to absorb rather than reflect light.
State moose crash mapping data has shown numerous collisions in southern Maine, where the animal is less prevalent but roads are busier. The crashes are also common along interstates and major routes, where driving speeds tend to be higher.
The MDOT suggests the following tips for avoiding — or minimizing damage from — a car-moose collision:
– Be alert and watch for wildlife, especially from dusk to dawn, when moose are most active and hardest to spot. Always scan the roadside for moose and other hidden hazards.
– Use your high beams whenever it’s legal to do so.
– Reduce your speed. Do not overdrive your headlights so that you allow enough sight distance to react and stop if an animal enters the roadway. At 70 mph, a typical speed on Interstate 95, it takes nearly 500 feet to bring a car to a stop under ideal daytime driving conditions, according to DOT studies. At 50 mph, it takes more than 400 feet to stop.
– Heed warning signs. They are posted in areas of high concentrations of wildlife and where collisions have been a problem.
– Moose sometimes travel in small family groups, so if you see one on the roadway be prepared for others nearby.
– Don’t try to drive around moose or get out of the car because moose are unpredictable and have been known to charge.
– Give the moose plenty of room; it eventually will wander back into the woods.
If a crash is unavoidable, motorists are advised to:
– Apply the brakes, letting up just before impact.
– Aim to hit the back end of the animal if possible.
– Duck to minimize injury.
BDN writer Dawn Gagnon contributed to this report.