ELLSWORTH, Maine — Five people, including a man who suffered a life-threatening injury, were hurt Saturday in a head-on crash on Route 1A.
Police said a man driving a pickup truck suffered a serious injury, while a man, woman and two children in a sport utility vehicle suffered minor injuries and were taken to area hospitals after the collision, which was reported at 12:39 p.m.
The crash occurred in front of Ellsworth Audio near Sunrise Glass. Police and firefighters blocked Route 1A, which is also known as Bangor Road, for at least 30 minutes after the crash. As of 2:15 p.m., traffic on Route 1A was restored.
The 2008 Chevy pickup truck was traveling south when it apparently crossed into oncoming traffic just before the crash with the 2008 Chevy Suburban. The pickup driver was taken to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. The occupants of the SUV went to Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital, police said.
Route 1A intersects with Old Mill Road, State Street and North Street, plus a rail trail, in the immediate vicinity of the crash. Residents described it as one of the busier intersections of Ellsworth.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. An Ellsworth police reconstruction team is assisting.
The crash was the second serious incident to occur at the intersection in about a week. A vehicle on Old Mill Road or North Street crashed through a fire hydrant and totaled a parked box truck at 9:30 p.m. on the previous Saturday.