A Cumberland County motorist was seriously injured when he swerved to avoid a deer and hit a tree in Castine on Thursday.
Thomas Spurling, 18, of New Gloucester was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center of Bangor after receiving multiple life-threatening injuries, according to a Friday statement by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
Passengers Stephen Sarkas, 21, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, and Aodhan Dougherty 19, of Middleboro, Massachusetts, received non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to the same hospital.
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Spurling was driving south on Castine Road in a 2008 black Dodge Dakota at about 8:30 p.m. when he saw the deer and went off the right side of the road, investigators said.
As of Friday night, Spurling is in critical condition, while the other two were discharged from EMMC, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The three were wearing seatbelts when the crash occurred.
The incident remains under investigation and will be reconstructed by Sheriff’s Deputy Jeffrey McFarland and Sgt. Chad Wilmot of the Ellsworth Police Department.